TSC under scrutiny on promotions for 25,252 teachers

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has come under fire for promoting 25,252 teachers across Kenya, leading to discussions about whether these promotions were fair. Machakos County had the most promotions with 690, while Garissa had the least with only 303.

The way promotions were spread out among different counties and job levels has raised concerns about possible favoritism. Some lawmakers have questioned the fairness of the process in the national assembly. However, TSC insists that the promotions were fair, regardless of how many teachers applied from each county.

In the financial year 2024/2025, TSC reported that 5,291 teachers received promotions through common cadre promotions and special measures in all 47 counties. Counties like Isiolo, Lamu, and Mandera had many promotions, with 282, 280, and 270 teachers promoted, respectively. In contrast, counties like Kiambu, Nairobi, Murang’a, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Laikipia had fewer promotions.

Promotions were given from grade C2 to D5, with a lot at grade C4, where 8,508 teachers were promoted. Other significant promotions included 5,425 to C5 and 4,971 to C3, with fewer at higher levels.

TSC CEO Nancy Macharia defended the promotion process, saying they followed the rules, including Regulation 72 and career progression guidelines. However, MP Julius Melly, who leads the education committee, pointed out that some teachers received multiple promotions while others stayed in the same job group for years.

The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has also expressed concerns. Acting Deputy Secretary-General Moses Nthurima criticized the promotion criteria, saying it was unfair to many teachers, especially in crowded areas. He noted that some teachers were promoted after just six months, even though the requirement is usually three years.

The TSC has been asked to provide a detailed list by Thursday explaining how the promotions were decided. Meanwhile, the union is calling for more openness and discussion in the promotion process.