Samburu teachers and union officials are up in arms after the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) revoked the promotions of 158 educators, citing failure to meet a three-year experience threshold — just a month after they had officially been promoted.
The affected teachers, who had undergone the full promotion process — including document verification and long-distance travel to attend interviews — were left stunned when the Commission canceled their new appointments.
“We went through everything — from applying to attending interviews in Nakuru. Some of us spent months preparing,” said a visibly frustrated teacher from Samburu. “To be told now that it was all a mistake is demoralizing.”
The local branch of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) issued a strong condemnation, labeling the reversal a “gross injustice.”
“This is not just administrative cruelty — it is betrayal,” said William Lengoiyap, Executive Secretary of KUPPET Samburu. “It shows complete disregard for the sacrifice of teachers in remote regions.”
The cancelled promotions come amid a larger storm where 1,864 promotions across the country were rescinded following a review by the TSC. Of these, nine ASAL counties lost 1,464 promotion slots.
Samburu, in particular, saw a drop from 406 approved promotions to just 248, making it one of the worst-hit counties.
While the TSC claims the revision was meant to align promotions with qualifications and experience, many teachers feel the process was unfairly tilted in favor of better-served counties. Data shows that regions like Kakamega and Machakos gained dozens of new promotion slots.
In contrast, teachers in ASAL counties — many of whom have acted in leadership roles for years — are being asked to continue in temporary capacities without compensation or security.
“This is systemic discrimination,” said a senior teacher in Baragoi. “If this is how we’re treated after years of service, what incentive is there to stay?”
Union leaders have vowed to fight for the reinstatement of the affected teachers, promising protests, legal action, and even political mobilization if the decision isn’t reversed.
