Over 60 teachers write to KUPPET seeking transfers following political tensions ahead of Ol Kalou by-election

Over 60 teachers have written to the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) requesting transfers from Nyandarua, citing fears for their lives as political campaigns in the county become increasingly heated ahead of the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election slated for July 16, 2026.

The union said it had received 61 letters from teachers seeking transfers due to safety concerns, with the situation linked to what it described as rising ethnic incitement by politicians campaigning for the vacant seat.

KUPPET said the remarks being made during the campaigns were creating fear among teachers and other civil servants, with some teachers from outside the county expressing concerns over their safety.

“The warnings are issued openly by politicians who care little about inter-ethnic harmony so long as their allies win political power. Teachers and other civil servants have found themselves in the crosshairs of a vicious campaign by candidates determined to win at all costs,” KUPPET Deputy Secretary General Moses Nthurima said.

KUPPET Chairman Omboko Milemba added that the number of teachers seeking transfers was unusual and showed the level of concern among educators working in the county.

“So far, the national office has received 61 letters from teachers seeking transfers due to safety concerns, and this is not common,” he said.

The Ol Kalou parliamentary seat became vacant following the death of David Kiaraho, who was serving his third term as the area’s Member of Parliament. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has cleared nine candidates to contest the by-election.

The union said the political environment surrounding the contest had caused anxiety among teachers, with some calling the national office seeking help to leave the area.

“This has made teachers endlessly call the national office, asking to be evacuated because they fear for their lives, and this is very unfortunate,” Nturima said.

KUPPET that politicians should avoid statements that could divide communities, saying freedom of expression does not allow incitement, hate speech, ethnic discrimination or attacks against others.

“We are telling the TSC that if politicians in Nyandarua continue on that path, then remove all teachers who are not locals because we do not want them to be killed because of politics,” Milemba warned.

The union said the concerns come at a time when schools are reopening after a period of student unrest, warning that political leaders should not promote messages that could affect learning and safety in schools.

“Political leaders are continuing to set the wrong example by inciting Kenyans against their fellow citizens as a means of winning political power,” he said.

KUPPET also linked the concerns in Nyandarua to insecurity witnessed earlier in Isiolo, where a teacher serving as a deputy principal was killed by bandits while returning home from work.

Milemba called on the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to reinstate five teachers who were interdicted for failing to report to their duty stations in Isiolo after the incident, saying the circumstances were beyond their control.

KUPPET has also called on the police, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to act quickly and hold politicians accountable for hate speech before the situation escalates.