Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) instructors employed by the Migori County Government have threatened to down their tools if the county executive fails to address a long-running promotion stalemate that has left some tutors stuck in the same job groups for nearly a decade.
The workers, representing various Vocational Training Centers (VTCs) across the county, converged at the Department of Education headquarters to demand immediate redress, describing the stagnation as a violation of their constitutional rights.
They strongly defended their actions against claims of political interference, maintaining that their gathering was a purely professional pursuit of labor rights.
“We are telling the citizens of Kenya, we know the law well and we know our rights well. We will put aside everything that is expected of us by law… until we get these promotions.”
Led by several representatives, the tutors expressed deep frustration with the Department of Education, accusing county officials of offering empty promises while ignoring their plight.
According to county human resource guidelines, public officers are ideally reviewed for promotion after every three years of service. However, the instructors revealed a starkly different reality on the ground.
“We came to pursue the rights of each and every instructor who is employed by the county government. So our desire is to get the promotion. So far, we don’t understand where the stagnation is coming from.Justice delayed is justice denied.”
Lillian Selma Odoyo, a tutor at the Uriri Vocational Training Center, noted that she and many of her colleagues have been eligible for promotions since 2017. She questioned why the department has taken nine years to process their advancements while routinely telling them that the adjustments are still “in progress.”
“We are due for promotion, and we have been denied from the Department of Education… We don’t know whether the process of promotion takes seven years or eight years. We were due in 2017.”
“Now we are demanding as a team from vocational training centers within Migori County that we be promoted with immediate effect. Or else, we’ll put our tools down and we see the way forward.”she reiterated
The instructors pointed out a glaring disparity in how county workers are treated, alleging that employees in other departments have benefited from multiple promotion cycles while the TVET sector continues to face systemic neglect.
Julius Oguto Kongo, a masonry instructor at Got Kweru VTC, highlighted the harsh socioeconomic toll the prolonged salary stagnation has taken on their families. He noted that amid a skyrocketing cost of living, the lack of financial progression has made it difficult for instructors to pay school fees for their children, leading to severe financial distress and domestic strain.
“We have stayed for a long time, some six years, others 10 years, others 15 years without being moved to other ranks. Government regulations state that if you work for three years, you should be promoted and move up.”
“Life has become expensive; we cannot even take our children to school. We are fighting with our wives at home, and some are even separating in marriages because of this. Life has gone up.”
The tutors directly petitioned Migori Governor, H.E. Dr. Ochilo Ayacko, urging him to use his legal background to resolve the standoff. Invoking the legal maxim “justice delayed is justice denied,” the workers appealed to the county boss to fast-track the release of their promotion letters.
The instructors issued a stern ultimatum to the county administration, declaring that they will officially withdraw their services and initiate a strike unless their demands are met with immediate effect. The workers stated they are prepared to explore all legal and political avenues to ensure their statutory rights are respected.
