TSC on the spot as MP claims appointment letters used as political rewards

Arama claims appointment letters, which should be purely human resource documents, are being handed out as political rewards, leaving his constituents excluded due to his perceived stance against the current administration.

He also asserts that the letters are being issued outside the TSC’s authority.

The recruitment of teachers in Kenya is constitutionally the mandate of the TSC. However, the line between professional recruitment and political patronage appears increasingly blurred.

Arama expressed frustration over the process, saying, "The letters are coming from State House. My colleagues are receiving them, yet when I ask why I have not, I am told it is because I am not aligned with the government."

He added that these politically motivated letters do not originate from the TSC, highlighting a trend where politicians, rather than the commission, seem to control teacher appointments.

This is not the first instance of such interference. Two years ago, the immediate former Education Cabinet Secretary, Ezekiel Machogu, was seen distributing employment letters during public rallies, a move critics said undermined the commission’s autonomy.

According to Article 237 of the Constitution, the TSC is the sole body tasked with recruiting and employing registered teachers, assigning them to public schools, and managing promotion, transfer, and disciplinary control.

For one to be employed, a candidate must be Kenyan, hold a minimum P1 certificate or diploma, and be registered with the commission. Candidates apply online, are shortlisted, interviewed, and only then issued employment letters by the TSC.

Arama warned, "When these letters are distributed at political rallies, the legal human resource process is reduced to a campaign tool. By 2027, we will ensure that we too can access these letters for our constituents."

All eyes are now on the TSC, which has yet to appoint a substantive CEO, to see if it will respond to these allegations of political interference. As the 2027 elections approach, teacher employment letters are increasingly viewed as a key instrument in grassroots political negotiations.