NAIROBI, Kenya — A growing wave of discontent is sweeping through the teaching fraternity as unemployed educators and stakeholders call for the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to reclaim its constitutional independence.
The outcry follows a series of high-profile incidents where politicians, rather than the Commission, appear to be the primary distributors of permanent employment letters.
At the heart of the frustration is the perception that the recruitment process has shifted from a merit-based system to a “political gift” used to reward loyalty, leaving thousands of qualified teachers stuck in low-paying internships.
The debate reached a boiling point this week in Emurua Dikirr, where Naiyanoi Ntutu Ng’eno, the widow of the late MP Johana Ng’eno, was seen personally issuing TSC employment letters to several teachers.
The beneficiaries of this local exercise included:
While the employment of these teachers is a win for their families, critics argue that the method of delivery undermines the TSC’s image as an independent body.
“It is unfair for the TSC to continue issuing forms through politicians, which often end up with close associates while others languish in internships for years,” one frustrated teacher noted.
The trend of political hiring is not limited to local MPs. Since 2022, President William Ruto has faced criticism for bypassing standard recruitment protocols to issue direct employment slots:
Stakeholders argue that while these gestures address specific shortages, they create a “skewed” system where academic standards take a backseat to political patronage.
The political capture of teacher hiring was flagged early in 2025 by Naivasha MP Jane Kihara.
In a rare move, the legislator called out the TSC for issuing an estimated 3,000 employment forms to politicians allied with the President.
Kihara alleged that the exercise was being used as a “Presidential Christmas gift,” deliberately locking out MPs who were perceived as supporting the impeached former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
“It’s in the public domain that the employment forms are being given to MPs who support the President. This is unfair to teachers and it is time this was stopped,” Kihara stated at Naivasha Day Secondary School.
The interference comes at a critical time for the Commission. Treasury CS John Mbadi recently confirmed that Sh 4.92 billion has been allocated for the confirmation of 20,000 junior school intern teachers into permanent terms.
Furthermore, the TSC has announced plans to recruit:
Unemployed teachers are now demanding that Acting CEO Eveleen Mitei ensures these new slots are distributed through a transparent, centralized portal rather than through constituency offices or political rallies.
The independence of the TSC is enshrined in the Constitution to protect the education sector from the whims of the political class.
As the Commission prepares for a massive recruitment drive in November, the message from the ground is clear: Keep the politicians out, and let merit speak.
Without a return to professional autonomy, the morale of deserving teachers—especially those serving their mandatory two-year internship—will continue to plummet, risking the quality of education for millions of Kenyan children.
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