TSC seeks Sh70 billion to hire 98,000 teachers nationwide
TSC Chief Executive Officer, Nancy Macharia, revealed this during a session with the Senate National Cohesion Committee, chaired by Marsabit Senator Mohammed Chute.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) needs Sh70 billion to recruit 98,461 teachers for junior secondary and high schools across the country.
TSC Chief Executive Officer, Nancy Macharia, revealed this during a session with the Senate National Cohesion Committee, chaired by Marsabit Senator Mohammed Chute.
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“If we were to receive Sh70 billion, we could address the teacher shortages optimally,” Macharia told the committee in response to a question by Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah.
She explained that the country currently has a shortage of 72,442 teachers in Junior Secondary and 26,039 in high schools under the 8-4-4 system.
Macharia firmly denied reports that politicians had taken over the hiring process, especially after allegations that some teachers were recruited at funerals.
“We did not issue recruitment letters to any politician. Our recruitment is conducted strictly at the subcounty level, as per TSC guidelines,” she said.
So far, the commission has hired 68,313 Junior Secondary School teachers on permanent and pensionable terms.
In the 2022–23 financial year, 9,000 teachers were recruited, followed by 39,550 in the 2024/2025 fiscal year and 20,000 interns who reported to schools in January 2025.
Out of the 68,550 planned positions, only 237 remain unfilled, largely due to a lack of applicants in hardship areas. These include 56 permanent and pensionable positions in Mandera, and 181 intern vacancies spread across Mandera (114), Marsabit (34), and Wajir (33).
She added that the subcounty-level recruitment approach was designed to ensure equal opportunity for all Kenyans.
Data from the commission showed that the Kalenjin community had the highest number of recruited teachers at 10,769, followed by the Luhya (10,466), Kamba (9,557), Kikuyu (8,799), Luo (8,721), and Abagusii (6,796).
Other numbers include Ameru (4,087), Mijikenda (1,851), Maasai (1,741), Embu (883), Tharaka (608), Mbeere (526), Teso (510), Taita (435), Somali (347), Pokot (204), Samburu (136), Turkana (131), and Duruma (115).
Despite this, Senators pressed Macharia to explain reports that politicians had influenced teacher recruitment.
“How many of these 68,000 teachers were hired by politicians at funerals, and how many through the professional channels of the commission?” Senator Chute asked.
“This issue is a matter of public notoriety. If teachers were hired against your policy, you should have resigned. That’s what serious civil servants do,” Omtatah added.
Macharia stood firm, stating that TSC followed the law and adhered to its guidelines. “As CEO, it is disheartening to see such things happen, but TSC did not participate in them. We have clear recruitment guidelines, and the 68,313 teachers were recruited by TSC, not the Office of the President,” she said.
Macharia reiterated that recruitment is based on class population and existing shortages, and is handled entirely at the subcounty level.
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