Unemployed teachers irked as President Ruto usurps TSC hiring powers

A wave of discontent is sweeping across the teaching fraternity after President William Ruto’s recent political tours, during which he has publicly announced the allocation of teaching jobs in different parts of the country.

Unemployed teachers now claim the move undermines established recruitment procedures and infringes on the constitutional mandate of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

Under Kenyan law, the Teachers Service Commission is solely responsible for recruiting, employing, and managing teachers in public institutions.

However, concerns have emerged following a series of presidential directives that appear to bypass or pre-empt the commission’s structured hiring process.

During a recent engagement with the ‘Wakorino’ community, President Ruto reportedly awarded 50 teaching positions to members affiliated with the group.

In a separate tour of the North Eastern region, he announced the allocation of 1,800 teaching slots, a move that was initially welcomed locally but has since drawn scrutiny from stakeholders questioning the process used.

Ruto said the teachers will be hired on affirmative action to address the long standing teacher shortage in the region.

The controversy deepened during his latest visit to Murang’a County, where the President declared 10 TSC teaching positions for educators working under Board of Management (BOM) at Njiiri School and an additional four positions for teachers at Gatimu Girls.

While the announcements were met with jubilation among beneficiaries, unemployed teachers elsewhere expressed frustration, arguing that such decisions should follow transparent, merit-based recruitment procedures overseen by the TSC.

Teacher unions and education stakeholders warn that politicizing teacher recruitment risks eroding fairness and accountability in the sector.

They argue that public declarations of job allocations—outside formal TSC channels—could create perceptions of favoritism and deny equal opportunity to qualified candidates across the country.

“This sets a dangerous precedent,” said one unemployed teacher who spoke on condition of anonymity. “We apply, get shortlisted, and wait for interviews, yet others are being handed jobs at rallies.”

Education experts also note that the TSC operates under clear guidelines, including advertisement of vacancies, shortlisting, and competitive interviews, to ensure equity and professionalism. Any deviation, they say, could weaken institutional independence.

State House has not issued a detailed explanation on how the declared positions integrate with TSC procedures.

As the debate intensifies, unemployed teachers are calling for transparency and adherence to the law, insisting that recruitment into the profession must remain fair, structured, and free from political influence.

During his recent tour of the Nyanza region, President William Ruto announced that the government will transition 20,000 teachers to permanent and pensionable terms by the end of the year.

This move specifically targets Junior School teachers currently serving on internships.

Speaking during the Labour Day celebrations, the President highlighted his administration’s education milestones, claiming the recruitment of over 120,000 teachers within three years.

“We have recruited over 120,000 teachers, built 23,000 classrooms, and are delivering 1,600 new laboratories,” Ruto stated, while also touting a new student-centered funding model.

Meanwhile, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is moving forward with its own plans to recruit an additional 16,000 junior and senior school interns this November.