KNUT slams TSC over political interference in teacher hiring process

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has faulted political leaders for interfering with teacher recruitment, accusing the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) of surrendering its mandate and sidelining deserving candidates.

The union, led by Secretary General Collins Oyuu, claims that deserving and long-serving teachers have been unfairly locked out of employment opportunities due to interference by political actors.

Speaking during a press briefing, Oyuu decried what he termed as the TSC’s abdication of its legal role, saying the commission had surrendered its constitutional authority to political operatives.

“Never in the history of the TSC have we seen what is happening now. The TSC should work and operate within its mandate. The manner in which employment forms are being distributed by some politicians leaves much to be desired,” he said.

Oyuu urged the TSC to reclaim its independence and organise its processes as mandated by law, warning that the current system risks discrediting the entire profession.

“The issue of employment is causing a lot of concern in the circles of the KNUT. The TSC is an independent commission by law and has the mandate to recruit teachers for the teaching service. It is alarming that the TSC has abdicated this role,” he said.

According to the union, the process has become discriminatory, with younger graduates being prioritised over older and more experienced teachers. Oyuu expressed frustration over what he called the unfair treatment of jobless teachers who have waited for years.

“You must be fair and human. The idea of picking a teacher who completed college in 2023 while leaving out the one who finished teacher training in 2010 raises more questions than it answers,” he said.

He went on to highlight the plight of ageing teachers who remain unemployed despite their qualifications and years of patience.

“Be human. We have teachers who are over 50 years old who are not employed. They are out there. Where do you want them to go? They must be employed,” he said.

The union boss also addressed President William Ruto directly, acknowledging his role in pushing for teacher employment but urging him to ensure the recruitment is executed with fairness.

“We cannot object to the executive powers of the president of this country to employ teachers. We want to thank him. But how these forms are distributed by some politicians leaves a lot to be desired. Yes, you can assist through TSC, but you must be fair and human,” he said.

Oyuu insisted that the TSC must prioritise both the year of graduation and the age of applicants during recruitment, warning that bypassing older candidates is unjust and demoralising.

During her appearance before the National Assembly’s Education Committee, TSC CEO Nancy Macharia dismissed the claims of bias and favouritism. She defended the commission’s promotion and recruitment system, citing budgetary constraints and adherence to legal frameworks.

“Lack of sufficient budgetary provision has significantly impeded the career growth of teachers. This stagnation has triggered complaints from unions, lowered morale, and contributed to increased attrition within the profession,” Macharia said.

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She also rejected accusations of political interference, explaining that the commission uses a digitised application process guided by Regulation 73 of the Code of Regulations for Teachers (CORT).

“The process is guided by transparency, performance, merit, and affirmative action, especially in marginalised and hard-to-staff areas,” she said.