The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has expressed concern over rising political tensions in the country, warning that growing insecurity in some regions is already pushing teachers to seek transfers for fear of their safety.
Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday, KUPPET officials said hundreds of teachers have begun requesting transfers from areas they consider unsafe as political activity starts gathering momentum ahead of the 2027 General Election.
KUPPET Chairperson Omboko Milema said the union was worried by increasing incidents of divisive politics, which he warned could affect both teachers and learning institutions if left unchecked.
“We are sending a stern warning to politicians and all the leaders who are spreading divisive politics and telling those who are not from a particular region to leave. We are not going to accept that as teachers,” Milema said.
The union noted that teachers, many of whom work away from their home counties, are becoming increasingly anxious about their security following reports of political intolerance and growing tensions in some parts of the country.
KUPPET also called on security agencies to take firm action against politicians accused of promoting division and incitement before the situation escalates further.
Deputy Secretary General Moses Nthurima urged the National Police Service, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to act swiftly against individuals fuelling political hostility.
“We urge the police, the DCI and the NCIC to hold politicians to account for their speech before it’s too late,” Nthurima said.
He also raised concerns over what he described as the increasing use of hired youth to cause disruptions during political events, warning that the trend could entrench political violence if not addressed.
“Security agencies must also address the emerging issue of goonism, which is formalising political violence in Kenya,” he added.
These fears follow several reports of increasing levels of unrest at some politically aligned functions being experienced around the country.
In one of the recent occurrences, suspected hired thugs attacked a church in Nairobi where some meetings were taking place. They disrupted the gathering, destroyed property and robbed some people attending the meeting.
KUPPET pointed out that if such a trend continues, it is possible that some schools may experience disturbances due to teachers applying for transfers from certain parts of the country to others, which they feel are safe.
This comes against a background where the government has been adamant about dealing firmly with cases of political violence. Both the Ministry of Interior and police have insisted that the government will not allow anyone to engage in activities relating to political violence.
However, teacher representatives have stated that despite such assurances, more should be done to ensure the safety of teachers as the nation moves towards the 2027 general elections.