How TSC Chief Nancy Macharia Withstood Political and Union Pressures for a Decade (Exclusive)
Nancy Macharia, the outgoing CEO of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), has shared insights into the challenging experiences she encountered during her ten-year leadership of the commission, particularly the numerous teachers’ strikes that disrupted the education sector.
In an exclusive interview, Macharia discussed the significant pressure that came with overseeing more than 300,000 teachers, especially during salary negotiations that reached an impasse.
She recounted how teachers’ unions, including the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), organized nationwide demonstrations that halted learning in public schools for extended periods.
According to Macharia, balancing the demands of these unions with government expectations was one of her greatest challenges. “At times, I felt trapped between conflicting interests. Teachers sought higher pay, but resources were limited,” she explained.
Nevertheless, she emphasized that each strike or protest offered a chance for negotiation and eventual compromise.
Macharia also addressed the contentious delocalization policy, which involved transferring teachers far from their home counties and drew significant criticism. While she defended the policy’s original goals of fostering national integration and professionalism, she acknowledged that its implementation required improvement and greater stakeholder engagement.
Reflecting on her legacy, Macharia highlighted several achievements, such as the digitization of teacher records, the introduction of competency-based training, and enhancements in recruitment processes. However, she recognized that not all her decisions were well-received.
“I leave this position knowing I did my utmost. I made mistakes, yes, but I also initiated meaningful reforms that will benefit the teaching profession for years to come,” she stated.
As her departure approaches, education stakeholders are eager to see who will succeed her and how they will address the challenges that remain.
For now, Macharia’s decade at the TSC stands out as one of the most significant periods in the history of Kenya’s education sector.