The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has defended its recruitment policies against accusations from MPs that the system is failing teachers and learners. Appearing before the National Assembly Education Committee, commission officials maintained that recruitment is fair, transparent, and responsive to school needs.
The officials explained that vacancies are identified through data analysis, distributed proportionally across counties, and advertised through newspapers and the TSC website. Applications are submitted online, followed by document verification and interviews at sub-county or county levels. A uniform scoring guide is used nationwide, with five percent of opportunities reserved for persons with disabilities.
Despite these assurances, lawmakers argued that many trained teachers remain jobless for over a decade, while recent graduates have already secured employment. Homa Bay Woman Representative Joyce Osogo Bensuda said, “Some are turning 45—the maximum hiring age—without ever being recruited. This is unfair.”
Makueni MP Suzanne Kiamba described the situation as a “waste of national investment,” pointing out that many teachers in her constituency have years of potential service left but no employment prospects.
Other MPs criticised regional disparities. Aldai MP Marianne Jebet Kitany lamented that in some schools, one TSC teacher manages hundreds of students, with additional teachers hired by parents. “This is marginalisation of taxpayers,” she said.
Concerns were also raised over recruitment criteria that prioritise science subjects, leaving arts and social sciences underrepresented. MPs urged the commission to ensure balanced staffing that supports the entire curriculum.
The debate highlighted growing dissatisfaction with how the TSC implements its policies, with lawmakers demanding reforms that align recruitment with realities on the ground and ensure equitable access to education across regions.
