The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is set to launch a wealth declaration exercise for teachers in November 2023. This online process will be open for submissions until December 31, 2023. However, the Commission has not yet activated the online platform for teachers to declare their income, assets, and liabilities.
As per Section 26 and 27 of the Public Officer Ethics Act (POEA), all Public Officers are mandated to declare their Income, Assets, and Liabilities (IALs) every two years. Failure to comply may lead to severe penalties, including a fine of Kshs 1,000,000 or a prison term not exceeding one year, or both, upon conviction, as stated in circular 12/2021 issued by the TSC.
In February 2022, the Commission issued a warning, stating that salaries of teachers who failed to declare their wealth by December 2021 may be withheld. Additionally, a list of non-compliant teachers was released in January and distributed to Sub County Directors, requiring them to explain within a week why they did not fulfill the declaration requirement.
TSC CEO Nancy Macharia emphasized that teachers failing to declare their wealth may face administrative disciplinary action in accordance with the TSC Administrative Procedures on Declaration of Income, Assets, and Liabilities (DIALs). This declaration process applies to all teachers under various circumstances, including those on leave, interdiction, suspension, or authorized absence of duty.
Macharia specified that teachers with less than two years of employment should submit their initial declarations, as the system is tailored to facilitate this. Heads of Institutions have been instructed to oversee the declaration progress within their respective institutions and report any instances of non-compliance by December 31.
It’s crucial to note that this wealth declaration exercise is exclusively conducted online. The Commission will not accept any physical (hard copy) forms as confirmation of wealth declaration. Stay informed and ensure timely compliance with this important process.