Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has changed his tune days after announcing that there is no money to employ Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers on permanent and pensionable terms.
In a statement on Sunday, August 25, 2024, the Treasury CS assured the country that money has been allocated to employ the JSS teachers.
CS Mbadi indicated that the JSS teachers will be employed starting January 2025.
“The Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning, Hon. John Mbadi, assures Kenyans that funds have been allocated by the government to employ Junior Secondary School teachers on permanent and pensionable terms starting January 2025,” a statement issued by the National Treasury read in part.
Mbadi thus distanced himself from claims that the government was broke to bankroll JSS teachers’ employment.
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— The National Treasury & Economic Planning (@KeTreasury) August 25, 2024
The CS also refuted circulating claims suggesting otherwise and apologized for any anxiety caused. @citizentvkenya @KBCChannel1 @ntvkenya @KTNNewsKE @BD_Africa @TheStarKenya @K24Tv @tv47news @NationAfrica @HopeTV_KE @SpiceFMKE @RamogiFM @EduMinKenya @StandardKenya
Mbadi earlier statement
Appearing before a local TV station on Thursday, August 22, 2024, CS Mbadi said the government does not have resources for the additional 20,000 JSS teachers.
CS added that there is a shortfall in the budget and therefore, the government cannot address JSS teachers’ concerns.
“We don’t have resources for recruiting JSS teachers on permanent and pensionable terms, and we do not have the resources for the additional 20,000 JSS teachers that were reduced in the estimates,” Mbadi stated during the interview.
“There is a shortfall of about Ksh13 billion. There is no money available for the conversation of JSS teachers unless we make budget adjustments, which we don’t have space for,” Mbadi added.
The government had planned to employ teachers who are currently on internships at a budget of Ksh18.3 billion. But the rejection of the Finance Bill created a budget hole.
However, the CS has assured the country that the JSS teachers will be employed.
