NAIROBI, Kenya — Since taking the helm of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) in acting capacity, Eveleen Mitei has done more than just keep the seat warm.
To a significant portion of the over 400,000 teachers across the country, she has become a “messiah”—a leader whose brief tenure has been defined by radical, pro-teacher reforms that have breathed new life into a profession often bogged down by stagnation and bureaucracy.
Ms. Mitei took over the baton from Nancy Macharia, who exited in June 2025 after a decade-long reign.
Now, as her final six-month acting term nears its June 2026 expiration, the teaching fraternity is speaking with one voice: “Confirm Mitei.”
What makes Mitei different? Beyond ensuring that salaries hit bank accounts with clinical punctuality, she has tackled “thorny” issues that had remained untouched for years:
The End of CPG Stagnation: In perhaps her most popular move, Mitei initiated the scrapping of the controversial Career Progression Guidelines (CPG).
The CPG was widely blamed for the mass stagnation of teachers in one job group for decades. It is being replaced with a path that prioritizes clear, merit-based promotion.
The ‘Swapmate’ Revolution: Mitei overhauled the online transfer platform. Teachers can now easily transfer to their home counties or preferred stations provided they find a “swapmate,” removing the “human element” that often led to corruption in the transfer process.
Rewarding Talent: For the first time, teachers who excel in co-curricular activities—including games, music, drama, and science contests—will have a dedicated path to promotion, recognizing that education happens both inside and outside the classroom.
The P1 Upgrade Path: Working with the World Bank, she launched a program to upgrade P1 teachers for free, preparing them for deployment to Junior Schools.
Junior School Autonomy: In a bold move that contradicted the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER), Mitei proposed that Junior Schools be granted administrative independence despite being hosted within primary school compounds.
Mitei’s popularity peaked in April 2026. Following an expose by KTN and The Standard regarding unauthorized deductions by the Kenya Women Teachers Association (Kewota), she acted within 24 hours to suspend the deductions. To teachers, this was proof of a leader who listens.
Despite the support, Mitei’s future is shrouded in legal and procedural uncertainty.
Under the law, an acting CEO can only serve two terms of six months. Her final term expires in June 2026.
The process to find a permanent successor has been a legal minefield:
The Kiambu Injunction: On February 3, Justice Dorah Chepkwony halted the recruitment process following a petition by Samuel Kariuki Kimata.
The court issued conservatory orders staying the recruitment until the matter is determined.
The Mombasa Challenge: A separate petitioner argued that TSC’s advertisement was illegal because it failed to formally declare a vacancy and used “restrictive” qualifications (requiring a degree in education and 10 years of experience) that excluded qualified professionals from other sectors.
While names like Wilson Sossion, Julius Jwan, and TSC insiders like Antonina Lentoijoni and Cheptumo Ayabei have been floated, rumors have emerged that Mitei did not formally apply for the post—a claim that has panicked her supporters.
Even a “messiah” has critics. To secure her legacy (and potentially her confirmation), teachers are asking Mitei to address three key grievances:
Political Interference: There is growing anger over politicians being captured issuing TSC employment letters at rallies. Teachers want Mitei to shield the commission’s independence.
The P1 “Ban”: Unemployed P1 teachers are demanding an end to their exclusion from mass recruitments, arguing they should be hired alongside their Junior and Senior school colleagues.
The “C-Plain” Degree Hurdle: Thousands of P1 teachers who went back to school and earned degrees (secondary option) find themselves ignored because they had a C (plain) in KCSE, despite having a C+ in their teaching subjects. They are calling for their certificates to be recognized for promotion.
The TSC CEO oversees a multi-billion shilling wage bill and dictates the career paths of nearly half a million Kenyans.
As CS Geoffrey Ruku inaugurates a new selection panel to fill Commissioner vacancies, the pressure is on the government to resolve the court cases and decide Mitei’s fate.
If confirmed, Mitei would serve a five-year renewable term. For the teachers currently enjoying “Mitei-time,” the choice is clear.
For the courts and the selection panel, the decision remains a high-stakes puzzle of law and policy.
Is the “Mitei Effect” enough to bypass the legal hurdles facing the TSC, or is the commission headed for a leadership vacuum in June?
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