As the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) prepares for the 2026/2027 financial year, a massive fiscal reorganization is underway. Acting CEO Evaleen Mitei recently presented a staggering Sh422.9 billion budget proposal to the National Assembly Education Committee, signaling a definitive end to “business as usual” in the Kenyan education sector.
This record-breaking budget isn’t just about salaries; it is a strategic war chest designed to fund the most significant structural transition in the history of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
The most controversial aspect of the new budget is the total redirection of recruitment funds. Historically, a significant portion of the TSC’s hiring budget was reserved for primary school teachers to manage high enrollment at the lower levels. However, in a bold move, the TSC has confirmed that zero shillings have been allocated for new primary school recruitment.
Instead, the commission is moving these billions “up the ladder” to address a critical deficit in Junior and Senior Secondary Schools, where the transition of Grade 10 learners in 2026 is expected to create a staffing emergency.
Of the requested funds, the TSC has earmarked a specific portion to recruit 16,000 additional teachers for the 2026/27 cycle. Unlike previous general recruitments, this cohort will be strictly specialized. The commission is looking for educators who can handle the technical pathways of Senior School, including:
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
Technical and Applied Sciences
Creative Arts and Sports
This shift explains why the TSC is comfortable with a “primary school hiring freeze”—they are essentially trading generalist labor for specialized technical expertise to prevent the CBC from stalling at the secondary level.
To mitigate the frustration of thousands of stagnant teachers, the budget includes a Sh2 billion allocation for promotions. The TSC aims to move 12,000 teachers to higher job groups. This is a strategic move to ensure that while new primary hiring is halted, those already in the system feel a sense of progression.
By rewarding experienced teachers, the commission hopes to retain its core workforce while it navigates the complex logistics of re-tooling its younger staff for the higher grades.
Beyond human labor, the Sh422.9 billion budget includes a Sh700 million request to establish and equip Zonal Offices in over 400 sub-counties. This decentralization is intended to bring TSC services closer to teachers, reducing the need for educators to travel to Nairobi for administrative issues.
As the National Assembly debates these figures, the message is clear: the TSC is betting its entire financial future on the success of the Junior and Senior School transition, even if it means closing the door on primary school entries for years to come.
