TSC refutes claims of April payroll recall over KEWOTA dispute

Teachers Service Commission Acting CEO Eveleen Mitei before the National Assembly at Parliament Buildings on March 31, 2026./DOUGLAS OKIDDY

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has dismissed as fake a viral social media post claiming that teachers will experience delays in receiving their April salaries.

In a statement issued on April 19, the Commission said the widely circulated poster alleging that the April payroll had been recalled over a court order linked to the Kenya Women Teachers Association (KEWOTA) was false and not from any official TSC channel.

“The Commission refutes a fake public statement circulating online purporting that teachers should brace for salary delays. This information is misleading and should be disregarded,” TSC said.

The viral post had claimed that TSC had halted salary processing to comply with a court directive suspending its decision to stop KEWOTA deductions, adding that teachers would have to wait until next week to receive their pay.

However, TSC clarified that no such directive had been issued through its official communication platforms and urged teachers and the public to rely only on verified channels for updates.

“Teachers and the public are advised to only rely on official TSC communication channels for accurate information,” the Commission stated, pointing to its verified Facebook page (TSC Kenya) and X account (@TSC_KE).

The Commission did not indicate any disruption to the April payroll, effectively assuring teachers that the claims of delayed salaries were unfounded.

TSC reiterated its commitment to transparent communication and warned against the spread of misinformation that could cause unnecessary anxiety among its workforce.

On April 15, KEWOTA dismissed allegations of financial impropriety and nepotism raised in a recent media exposé, terming the claims as malicious and false.

Addressing a press conference, KEWOTA chairperson Modesta Akaki said the report presented a distorted narrative that failed to capture the full and accurate context of the matters raised.

“The exposé presents a narrative that is not only misleading but also fails to capture the full and accurate context of the matters discussed,” Akaki said.

The media report had accused officials within the association of hiring relatives and facilitating corruption, claims that KEWOTA now insists are entirely unfounded.

“Firstly, we wish to state, without fear of contradiction whatsoever, that the allegations propagated therein are not only baseless but are a calculated fabrication, orchestrated with reckless disregard for truth, professional ethics, and the law,” Akaki said.

She further revealed that the individual behind the claims had allegedly admitted in writing that the assertions were unverified and misleading.

“Notably, the principal architect of these claims has since formally admitted—in writing—that his assertions were unverified, misleading, and actuated by malice aforethought. This admission alone irredeemably collapses the credibility of the entire broadcast,” she added.

Akaki defended KEWOTA’s track record, noting that the association has for years played a critical role in promoting the welfare, professional development, and rights of women teachers across the country.

She warned that unsubstantiated allegations risk eroding public trust in institutions that play an important societal role.