Recent reports point to what appears to be a close working relationship between the Kenya Women Teachers Association (KEWOTA) and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), raising concerns about possible collusion in a payroll deduction scheme that has affected thousands of female teachers across the country.
At the center of the matter is KEWOTA Chief Executive Officer Benta Opande, who has been linked by media investigations to the alleged arrangement involving direct deductions from teachers’ salaries.
According to a report by KTN News, more than 150,000 female teachers may have had KSh 200 deducted from their monthly salaries through the TSC payroll system.
The deductions are estimated to generate about KSh 30 million every month, making the scheme one of significant financial scale.
The fact that these deductions were processed through the official payroll system has raised questions about how KEWOTA may have gained access and whether there was coordination with individuals inside TSC.
The investigation suggests that the deducted funds were routed through a government-linked account before being withdrawn under unclear circumstances.
Sources cited in the report claim that only a small group within KEWOTA had access to the systems and channels used, pointing to a structured operation rather than isolated actions.
This has strengthened claims that the process may not have been possible without internal support or oversight failures within TSC.
Some affected teachers have said they were enrolled into the deduction system without their knowledge or approval.
Others reported facing challenges when trying to stop the deductions, which continued despite complaints. Similar concerns have been raised in past petitions, where teachers called for refunds and greater transparency, although KEWOTA has previously disputed such claims.
A whistleblower quoted in the investigation alleged that cash withdrawals were made and shared in a way that helped sustain the deductions over time.
The same source claimed that payroll data may have been used to manage the scheme, though these allegations remain unverified and rely on insider accounts.
There are also reports that Benta Opande is under investigation by state agencies over possible financial misconduct and money laundering, although no formal charges have been announced.
KEWOTA has denied wrongdoing in earlier responses, maintaining that no official complaints were submitted and suggesting that some accusations were driven by dissatisfied individuals.
