John Okoth Ogutu’s killing in Tanzania exposes grim reality for jobless Kenyan teachers
Ogutu, a teacher at Sky Schools in Dar es Salaam, was shot dead on October 29, 2025, while his compatriot, Fredrick Lorent Obuya, was unlawfully arrested and detained by Tanzanian security forces on October 31.
The death of John Okoth Ogutu, a Kenyan teacher who lost his life during post-election skirmishes in Tanzania, has exposed the desperation facing thousands of unemployed teachers in Kenya.
Many trained teachers have crossed borders in search of greener pastures after the government failed to absorb them into the public education system.
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Education experts and advocates have cited Okoth’s case as a tragic consequence of the government’s neglect of its skilled workforce.
Currently, many Kenyan teachers are struggling to find employment, despite significant shortages in schools. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) maintains a large register of unemployed teachers.
While thousands have been recruited in recent years, many feel the process is slow and are frustrated by the lack of permanent positions and low-paying internship roles. This has led to protests by teacher unions, an increase in fraud attempts, and growing frustration among qualified teachers who have waited years for employment.
Boaz Waruku, Strategic Advisor at the Elimu Bora Working Group, told The Eastleigh Voice that Kenyan teachers are migrating to other countries out of desperation to earn a living after acquiring skills but remaining without income.
“Kenyan teachers are paid better than Tanzanian teachers. One only crosses the border out of desperation,” said Waruku.
He added that they are investigating claims by President William Ruto’s administration that 75,000 teachers have been employed.
“We are investigating who these 75,000 new teacher recruits are. Are ghost teachers earning salaries while real, trained, and TSC-registered teachers languish out there?” he posed.
Waruku’s concerns about the plight of Kenyan teachers have also drawn attention from human rights organisations and advocacy groups.
Human rights organisations are now demanding the immediate repatriation of the body of Ogutu, who was shot dead in Tanzania, and the release of Fredrick Lorent Obuya, who remains detained incommunicado.
In a joint statement, Amnesty International Kenya, Vocal Africa, and Defenders Coalition condemned the ongoing violence, human rights violations, and breakdown of the rule of law in Tanzania following the recently concluded elections.
Ogutu, a teacher at Sky Schools in Dar es Salaam, was shot dead on October 29, 2025, while his compatriot, Fredrick Lorent Obuya, was unlawfully arrested and detained by Tanzanian security forces on October 31.
The organisations allege that Obuya is being held incommunicado at Oyster Bay Police Station in Dar es Salaam.
“These are not isolated incidents but rather emblematic of the escalating repression unleashed by Tanzanian authorities against the public, journalists, and human rights defenders in the aftermath of the disputed elections,” the statement reads.
The organisations noted that the killing of Ogutu and the continued detention of Obuya represent serious breaches of Tanzanian constitutional law and violate multiple regional and international instruments to which Tanzania is a State Party.
The issue of Kenyan teachers seeking employment abroad is especially paradoxical, given that the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has raised concerns with TSC over the delayed confirmation of 20,000 intern teachers into permanent and pensionable positions ahead of the expiry of their contracts.
Cabinet Secretary for Education Julius Ogamba outlined ongoing reforms and the autonomy of Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers during his appearance before the Senate on Wednesday, October 1, 2025.
Ogamba also detailed efforts to address teacher shortages in critical subjects.
“In the latest recruitment drives, teachers of sciences, mathematics, and technical subjects were given priority to address shortages in those key areas,” he explained.
He further noted that practical learning continues despite some schools lacking dedicated laboratories.
“Currently, schools without dedicated laboratories have designated rooms equipped to support practical components. We have instructed Junior Schools to use their infrastructure repair, maintenance, and improvement allocation to establish laboratories. This allocation provides Sh4,000 per learner annually,” the CS stated.
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