The Chairman of the Kenya Primary School Head Teachers Association-Nyanza Chapter, Elly Ondiek, has advocated for the Teacher Service Commission (TSC) to prioritize the promotion of head teachers.

Speaking at the 21st annual general meeting and conference of the Kenya Primary School Head Teachers Association (KEPSHA) for the Nyanza Region, held at Migori Stadium, Ondiek highlighted that nearly 90 percent of head teachers are currently classified within Job Group C5.

He emphasized that these educators are responsible for managing both primary and junior secondary education, a significant undertaking that warrants recognition; however, their compensation remains inadequate.

Ondiek argued for their advancement from Job Group C5 to D1 to reflect the substantial responsibilities they bear in both educational sectors.

Furthermore, he noted that the conference would serve as an opportunity for head teachers to reflect on their professional experiences, successes, and challenges, while also enhancing their capacities through sessions facilitated by the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC), the Teacher Service Commission (TSC), the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), and the Ministry of Education, among other stakeholders.

Ondiek pointed out that educational reforms introduced by various stakeholders often fail to reach all head teachers in their respective workplaces. Therefore, he stressed the importance of utilizing the conference to familiarize themselves with institutional expectations.

He also urged the Ministry of Education to ensure the stability of the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) to provide head teachers with a more efficient operational framework.

He noted that many head teachers have encountered difficulties in uploading student information onto the system, expressing confidence that the conference would address these issues and enhance educational quality.

Additionally, he called on the Ministry of Education to ensure that funds allocated to schools are appropriately aligned with budgetary categories and accompanied by guidelines for their utilization to promote responsible financial management.

County KEPSHA Chairperson David Okelo also highlighted that delays in capitation funding remain a significant challenge impacting the daily operations of educational institutions.

He urged the Ministry of Education to consider providing capitation amounts equivalent to those allocated to senior schools, emphasizing that head teachers are now tasked with overseeing both primary and junior secondary sections, which require increased financial support.

Hussein Abraham, a head teacher from Homa Bay County, remarked that the conference would aid in enhancing their managerial competencies and addressing institutional challenges.

He raised concerns regarding the shortage of junior secondary school teachers and urged the government to recruit additional educators to ensure the provision of quality education for students.

The event, the first to be held in Migori County, brought together about 4000 head teachers drawn from the six Counties in the Nyanza region and is set to run until 16 April.

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has postponed the promotion of educators due to a significant shortage of financial resources.

Approximately 179,000 teachers in primary and secondary education have experienced stagnation within their respective job groups as a result of inadequate funding.

During a session with the National Assembly Education Committee, led by Kasipul MP Eve Obara, TSC Chief Executive Officer Dr. Nancy Macharia presented a concerning overview of the current situation, highlighting the impediments to teachers’ career advancement.

Dr. Macharia indicated that the TSC requires 3 billion Kenyan shillings to facilitate the promotion of 178,871 teachers who have remained in the same job groups for an extended period, despite meeting the qualifications for advancement.

Dr. Macharia articulated that insufficient budgetary allocations have severely hindered the professional development of teachers. This stagnation has led to grievances from teacher unions, diminished morale, and an increase in attrition rates within the teaching profession.

Her statements coincided with rising discontent among educators, who accuse the TSC of favoritism in the promotion process and criticize the commission’s quota system for unjustly excluding qualified candidates.

In her defense against allegations of partiality, Macharia clarified that the TSC had received only 2 billion shillings for teacher promotions over the past two fiscal years, which is significantly less than the 3.5 billion shillings required to address the existing backlog.

Nevertheless, the TSC successfully promoted 151,611 teachers during that timeframe, with 75,090 promotions occurring through common cadre processes and 76,521 through competitive methods.

In the current fiscal year, 25,252 teachers have already been promoted following interviews conducted earlier. However, the CEO acknowledged that 381 advertised positions remain unfilled, despite a high level of interest from applicants. In November of the previous year, the TSC received 5,690 applications, followed by an additional 19,943 in December.

Dr. Macharia noted that although the TSC had requested 2 billion shillings from the National Treasury for this year’s promotions, only 1 billion shillings was allocated. Many educators contend that the quota system, which distributes promotion opportunities based on regional or categorical criteria, disproportionately disadvantages diligent individuals, particularly in densely populated areas characterized by intense competition.

In rural regions, logistical challenges exacerbate the situation, as interviews may not be conducted in a timely manner, and some schools remain understaffed due to the departure of experienced teachers in response to frustration. While the TSC has made progress in promoting thousands of teachers despite financial constraints, the magnitude of the backlog continues to pose a significant challenge. Absent immediate intervention and sustained financial support, many educators will remain ensnared in a cycle of discontent and exhaustion.

Eve Obara underscored the importance of supporting teachers, stating, “Our teachers are the backbone of this nation’s future. We must do right by them — not just with words, but with resources and action.”

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has indicated a requirement of Sh3 billion to facilitate the promotion of over 178,000 primary and secondary school teachers who have experienced prolonged stagnation within their respective job groups.

During a session with the National Assembly Education Committee on Tuesday, TSC Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia attributed this persistent stagnation to years of inadequate funding, which she claimed has severely hindered the execution of career progression guidelines. Macharia stated, “Insufficient budgetary allocations have significantly obstructed the professional advancement of teachers. This stagnation has elicited grievances from unions, diminished morale, and contributed to increased attrition rates within the teaching profession.”

In her testimony, Macharia addressed inquiries from the committee, chaired by Kasipul MP and Vice-Chair Eve Obara, while defending the commission against allegations of biased promotion practices and favoritism. She noted that for the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 fiscal years, only Sh2 billion had been allocated for teacher promotions, a figure that is substantially lower than the Sh35 billion necessary to resolve the existing promotion backlog.

Macharia reported that out of the 178,871 teachers awaiting promotion, 151,611 had received promotions over the past two years, with 75,090 promoted through common cadre promotions and 76,521 through competitive processes. In the current fiscal year alone, 25,252 teachers have been promoted following interviews conducted earlier this year.

Despite these advancements, she highlighted that 381 positions advertised in November and December 2024 remain unfilled due to budgetary and logistical constraints. Furthermore, she disclosed that 5,690 teachers applied for promotions in November 2024, while 19,943 applications were submitted in December.

Macharia also informed lawmakers that although the commission had requested Sh2 billion from the National Treasury for teacher promotions in the current fiscal year, it was allocated only Sh1 billion, which again falls short of the commission’s requirements.

Her statements occur amidst growing criticism from the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA), which has condemned the TSC for what it perceives as inequitable and discriminatory promotion practices. KESSHA has particularly criticized the commission’s quota-based system, arguing that it demoralizes teachers and fosters inequality in career advancement.

Nevertheless, the TSC has maintained that any additional funding would be utilized to ensure equitable and timely promotions, thereby addressing the longstanding grievances of educators.

New Information Surfaces Regarding Teachers Promotion Behind Door Meeting

New information has come to light regarding a secret high-level meeting between senior officials of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) over the current teacher promotion issue.

The meeting, which took place last week in Nairobi, aimed to alleviate increasing discontent among teachers who believe they are being ignored in discussions about career advancement.

KNUT, headed by Secretary-General Collins Oyuu, advocated for urgent measures to address the backlog of outstanding promotions, according to sources conversant with the talks.

According to Oyuu, thousands of teachers have been identified as having stayed in the same job category for years, even though they have received better credentials and shown outstanding service.

According to reports, TSC officials cited delays in internal vetting and financial limitations as the reasons, but they assured that a full plan would be available by the end of the current term.

The agenda also included a discussion of the potential for making the existing promotion framework more inclusive and transparent.

Insiders characterized the discussions as “tense but promising” despite the lack of a formal agreement, and both parties agreed to meet again in two weeks.

The meeting takes place against a backdrop of increasing demands from teachers’ unions and warnings of industrial action if the promotion deadlock is not quickly addressed.

How TSC Promotions Were Distributed

In the most recent exercise that the National Assembly rejected, Machakos County had the most teachers promoted (690), while Garissa County had the fewest (303).

A review of Teacher Service Commission (TSC) promotion data reveals that, regardless of a county’s size or the number of applicants, the positions were distributed with only minor differences between the counties.

The Committee on Education of the National Assembly received the list, which details the quantity of openings by job grade as well as the number that was allocated to each county.

The MPs, however, rejected the list last week and granted the TSC until Thursday of the following week to provide specific criteria for how the promotions were awarded.

On April 2, 2025, the commission released the list of 25,252 teachers whose applications for a variety of promotional positions had been approved.

The list, however, provoked instant outcry from education stakeholders, including a group of MPs and teacher unions, who called it unjust.

The TSC was accused by the Education Committee, led by Julius Melly (Tinderet, UDA), of using a secret promotion criterion and not adhering to equity principles.

They claimed that the promotions unfairly favored certain areas and excluded worthy candidates from others.
He pondered the rationale for what seemed to be an equitable allocation of promotions throughout counties, stating that it deviated from historical norms and overlooked population trends.

Mr. Melly questioned, “How can you promote someone three times in a row while others have been stuck in one job group for over a decade?”
Mr. Melly stated that certain instructors had received numerous promotions in a short period of time, excluding other deserving candidates with greater experience.

He informed this reporter on Friday that the committee would look into instances where newly hired teachers are repeatedly promoted at the expense of others who have been shortlisted, interviewed, but never promoted over the years.

The MPs seek data indicating the number of years teachers have worked in specific job grades prior to being promoted.
TSC Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia justified the procedure before the Committee on Education, claiming that it was decentralized to guarantee regional representation and based in law.

“Aligning promotion policies with legal and regulatory frameworks: The promotion process strictly adheres to Regulation 73 of the Code of Regulations for Teachers (CORT), the Career Progression Guidelines (CPG), and the Policy on Selection and Appointment of Institutional Administrators,” she stated.

Due to an unequal distribution of opportunities among counties, teachers’ unions urged the commission to retract the released list of promoted instructors.

The TSC, however, presented data in its defense to demonstrate the figures for common cadre promotions and those promoted under the affirmative action program for the financial year 2024–2025, which included 5,291 teachers from all 47 counties.
For instance, the counties that received the most promotions under the program are Isiolo (282), Lamu (280), and Mandera (270). Kiambu (46), Nairobi and Murang’a (63 each), and Elgeyo Marakwet and Laikipia (64 each) are the counties that received the fewest promotions.

Promotions range from C2 to D5 across nine different grades.
Grades C4 and C5 had the highest number of promotions, with 5,425 and 8,508 teachers being promoted, respectively.
This was succeeded by 1,410 to D3, 1,445 to C2, 2,519 to D1, and 4,971 to grade C3.

Despite their smaller number, the upper executive tiers confirmed that 799 teachers had been promoted to D2, 128 to D4, and 47 to D5, indicating advancement in developing senior leadership in schools.
Moses Nthurima, the acting Secretary General of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), has criticized the TSC for what he calls the unjust distribution and promotion of teachers throughout the counties.

“Certain areas have suffered. Counties with larger teacher populations are being negatively impacted if the 25,000 slots are not allocated proportionately according to the number of teachers per county. Those who have remained stagnant for years will obviously be ignored. He told news reporters, “In some counties, they promoted teachers who have only served for six months, while in others, teachers who’ve served for over ten years were ignored.”

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has indicated that a budget of Sh35 billion is necessary to facilitate the advancement of 178,871 teachers who have remained in stagnant job groups for an extended period. This information was presented to the National Assembly Education Committee on Tuesday.

TSC Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia, who appeared before the committee chaired by Vice Chair Eve Obara (MP, Kasipul), attributed the stagnation of teachers’ career progression to persistent underfunding, which has obstructed the implementation of the commission’s career progression guidelines.

Macharia stated, “Inadequate budgetary allocations have severely hindered the professional development of teachers. This stagnation has led to grievances from unions, diminished morale, and an increase in attrition rates within the teaching profession.”

In her defense against allegations of favoritism and biased promotion practices, Macharia revealed that for the financial years 2023/2024 and 2024/2025, only Sh2 billion has been allocated for teacher promotions, which is significantly below the Sh35 billion required to address the existing backlog.

During this timeframe, 151,611 teachers received promotions, with 75,090 advancing through common cadre promotions and 76,521 through competitive processes. In the current financial year alone, 25,252 teachers have been promoted to new grades following interviews conducted earlier this year.

Documentation indicates that despite a substantial number of applications, 381 positions advertised in November and December 2024 remain unfilled, primarily due to financial and logistical challenges. In November 2024, 5,690 teachers applied for promotions, followed by an additional 19,943 applications in December.

Furthermore, the CEO disclosed that while the TSC had requested Sh2 billion from the National Treasury for this year’s promotions, only Sh1 billion was allocated, once again falling short of the commission’s requirements.

These comments come in the context of increasing dissatisfaction from the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA), which has criticized the TSC for perceived inequities in promotion practices, particularly regarding the use of a quota-based system that the association argues is discriminatory and demotivating.

Distribution of 25,152 Promotion Vacancies by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC)

In Summary: Machakos and Makueni Counties Emerge as Principal Beneficiaries

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced the promotion of a total of 25,252 educators nationwide for the 2024/2025 fiscal year, with Machakos and Makueni counties identified as significant beneficiaries of this initiative.

According to the official data disseminated by the TSC, both Machakos and Makueni counties each recorded 668 promotions, positioning them second nationally, just behind Meru County, which achieved 678 promotions. Kitui County also made a notable impact with 630 promotions, thereby securing a prominent position for the Lower Eastern region in the promotion rankings.

The promotions were allocated based on job group classifications, specifically from C2 to D5, with the highest number of advancements occurring within job group C4, followed by C3 and C5.

A senior education officer from Kitui remarked, “This represents a significant milestone in career advancement. It serves not only as a recognition of effort but also as an impetus for enhanced service delivery.”

Regional Breakdown of Promoted Educators:

– Machakos: 668 (including 266 in C4 and 119 in C5)
– Makueni: 668 (reflecting Machakos with 266 in C4 and notable numbers in C3 and D2)
– Kitui: 630 (comprising 265 in C4, 122 in C5, and 90 in D1)

The TSC articulated that these promotions are intended to address vacant positions and to reinforce school leadership and the delivery of the curriculum throughout the nation. The Commission underscored that the distribution of promotions was determined by merit and the availability of positions, rather than political or regional favoritism.

In contrast, several counties, particularly those in the northeastern and coastal regions, received markedly fewer promotions, with Wajir (341), Lamu (398), and Mandera (388) lagging behind.

National Totals by Job Group:

– C4: 8,508 promotions
– C3: 4,971 promotions
– C5: 5,425 promotions

Educators from the Lower Eastern region have expressed their appreciation for the promotions, asserting that this development will enhance morale and productivity in classrooms that have historically experienced stagnation in career advancement.

A deputy headteacher in Mbooni East stated, “For the first time, it feels as though our efforts are being acknowledged.”

These promotions are effective immediately and occur at a pivotal moment when the education sector is under increasing pressure to enhance performance and accountability amidst ongoing curriculum reforms.