Nakuru West MP Samuel Arama has accused the government of politicising teacher employment, claiming that Teachers Service Commission (TSC) letters intended for administrative purposes are being distributed as political rewards.
Arama alleged that some MPs receive multiple letters from State House, leaving out teachers associated with MPs who are not openly aligned with the ruling government. “When they want to issue those letters, they leave me out, saying I don’t support them,” he said. “Some MPs have 10 to 15 letters, claiming the government is theirs, while others are sidelined.”
The MP warned that voters will respond to such practices in the 2027 elections, suggesting that political interference in teacher recruitment could influence electoral outcomes.
Concerns over TSC’s independence are not new. In previous recruitment drives, including the 2023/2024 exercise for 6,000 teachers, letters were reportedly handed to MPs for allocation, bypassing public advertisement and competitive hiring processes. In some counties, a cartel involving political aides and TSC officials was exposed for selling forged appointment letters at Ksh400,000 each.
Arama also highlighted interference in teacher promotions, noting that some local TSC officers were threatened with transfers if they did not comply with politically preferred lists.
Under Article 237 of the Constitution, the TSC is mandated to recruit, employ, assign, promote, transfer, and exercise disciplinary control over registered teachers. Critics say recent practices undermine this independence and compromise the merit-based system.
Arama called for reforms, urging that teacher employment remain transparent and free from political influence, ensuring equal opportunities for all qualified teachers across Kenya.
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