Members of Parliament (MPs) have dismissed claims by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula that some lawmakers receive Teachers Service Commission (TSC) employment letters and distribute them to job seekers in their constituencies.
The legislators instead challenged the Speaker to provide evidence to support his allegations, setting the stage for a fresh confrontation over the integrity of teacher recruitment in the country.
The row stems from remarks by Wetang’ula, who claimed that some MPs give up to 10 TSC employment letters after accompanying them to State House.
He further alleged that some legislators have turned the opportunities into a business by selling them to desperate job seekers for as much as Ksh400,000.
MPs Demand Evidence
However, ODM lawmakers have strongly rejected the claims and demanded proof.
Ruaraka MP TJ Kajwang said he had not received any TSC employment letters but would be willing to distribute them to constituents if such opportunities existed.
He challenged Wetang’ula to explain where the letters were and how the alleged arrangement worked.
“I am still looking for those letters. I want to know where they are so that I can take them to Ruaraka. As to whether Speaker Wetang’ula went out there and said what he said, we will wait for him on the floor to tell us where those letters are. If he is holding them in his office, we will break that door to get those letters,” Kajwang’ said.
Seme MP Dr. James Nyikal also distanced himself from the claims, saying neither he nor fellow Nyanza legislators accompanied Wetang’ula to State House to receive TSC recruitment letters.
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The lawmakers’ response has shifted attention from Wetang’ula’s allegations to the question of whether evidence exists to support claims that elected leaders are involved in teacher recruitment.
Focus Shifts to TSC Recruitment Rules
Teachers’ representatives have also joined the debate, insisting that the recruitment process follows clear procedures that leave little room for political influence.
KNUT official Alvans Odhiambo said TSC distributes vacancies according to staffing needs in counties and sub-counties before advertising them publicly.
He explained that teachers are informed of available slots during recruitment exercises and that successful candidates are published for public scrutiny after the process is completed.
“What happens when you advertise for TSC recruitment? Every county and sub-county is given a slot. And it’s open, and teachers are aware,” he said.
His remarks echoed concerns raised by teachers’ unions that political interference could undermine a recruitment framework designed to ensure fairness and transparency.
National Assembly Education Committee Chairperson Julius Melly defended the existing system, saying Parliament’s role is limited to allocating funds while TSC independently determines staffing needs and conducts recruitment.
“There is no way you can go issuing letters to individuals in the streets without proper recruitment procedures,” Melly said.
He said the committee would not condone the sale or political distribution of employment opportunities and would pursue any credible, evidence-backed complaints.
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The controversy has also raised constitutional questions about the independence of the Teachers Service Commission.
Under Article 237 of the Constitution, TSC is mandated to register, recruit and employ teachers, functions that are meant to be carried out independently of political offices.
MPs argue that if politicians are involved in issuing employment letters, it would amount to interference in the commission’s constitutional mandate.
Despite the serious allegations, Wetang’ula has not publicly named any MP accused of selling the opportunities or produced documentary evidence showing legislators receive TSC employment letters from State House.
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