Recent claims by President William Ruto, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, and Senator Edwin Sifuna have raised questions about how the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) issues appointment letters in the country.
A fact-check by The Kenya Times examined the claims against TSC’s documented recruitment process, which sets out the stages through which qualified teachers apply, are assessed, and are eventually appointed.
TSC Recruitment Process for Qualified Teachers
Under the Commission’s recruitment process, TSC advertises vacant teaching posts and invites qualified candidates to apply through its online platform.
the process begins when interested candidates submit applications online for declared vacancies in specific institutions, sub-counties or counties.
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The Commission also states that only registered teachers are eligible to apply. This requirement is set out in Section 23(1) of the Teachers Service Commission Act, 2012, which requires a person to be registered as a teacher before engaging in the teaching profession.
After applications are submitted, TSC shortlists candidates who meet the requirements, notifies them, and invites them to attend interviews conducted by a selection panel.
TSC says the recruitment exercise follows its Guidelines for Recruitment of Teachers, which provide the framework for the selection process.
The next stage involves the County Panel vetting applicants’ documents. After the vetting and selection process, successful candidates are required to fill employment forms.
Completed employment forms, together with the merit lists, are then forwarded by TSC County Directors to the Commission’s headquarters for further processing.
Issuance of Appointment Letters by TSC
Appointment letters come after the recruitment, interview, vetting, and submission of the successful candidates’ employment documents and merit lists.
TSC then issues appointment letters to successful candidates.
The Commission also sets conditions for candidates who receive appointments. A successful candidate who fails to accept the appointment within the stipulated period risks having the appointment automatically canceled.
The guidelines also provide a mechanism for candidates who believe they were unfairly treated during recruitment. Aggrieved candidates can lodge complaints with TSC within seven days of the selection date.
Also Read: TSC Explains Why Teachers Cannot Be Promoted Every Year
Claims by Ruto, Sifuna and Wetang’ula on TSC Letters
The debate intensified after President William Ruto spoke at the burial of former Emurua Dikirr MP Johanna Ng’eno, where he said a teaching appointment held by the late Carlos Keter would go to his sister because Keter died before receiving his first salary.
“Now we have said that since he has not yet received a single month’s salary, we will give that teaching letter to his sister to become a teacher. I hear he has a sister who is educated,”said Ruto
Senator Edwin Sifuna later alleged that TSC gives letters to MPs, who then take them to their constituencies and decide who receives the teaching opportunities. He argued that such an arrangement would disadvantage graduates who have spent years waiting for employment and called for the recruitment system to be based on merit.
On August 23, Wetang’ula publicly stated that some MPs are taken to State House and receive 10 TSC letters to give to prospective teachers. He further alleged that some MPs sell the opportunities for as much as KSh400,000.
“There are some of our Members of Parliament whom I take to State House to see President William Ruto, and then the President gives them ten TSC letters each which they are supposed to bring to teachers so that they can be officially employed by the government, but they are selling them to Kenyans at a price of KSh 400,000,” said Wetangula.
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