The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is currently facing scrutiny due to delays in issuing promotion letters to educators who successfully passed interviews conducted in January 2025. This situation has led to frustration among teachers and raised questions about the transparency and efficiency of the promotion process.
Across various sub-county TSC offices, teachers have been making frequent visits to inquire about their promotion letters. Many of these educators had their TSC numbers listed on the commission’s website as successful candidates but have yet to receive official communication. Despite assurances from TSC officers urging patience, the lack of tangible progress has led to growing dissatisfaction among the teaching fraternity.
In Migori County, a teacher expressed a discontent, stating, “I have stagnated in job group C1 for a long time. I am now among those who succeeded. Where do biases arise from?”
The delay in releasing promotion letters has caught the attention of Members of Parliament. Julius Melly, the Tinderet MP and Chair of the National Assembly’s Education Committee, criticized the TSC for promoting some teachers shortly after previous promotions while others remain stagnant. He emphasized the need for a forensic audit to ensure fairness and transparency in the promotion process.
In response, TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia defended the commission’s actions, asserting that the promotion process was conducted fairly and in accordance with established policies. She maintained that the integrity of the process remains intact.
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has voiced concerns over the stagnation of over 50,000 teachers who have not received promotions for extended periods. During a meeting with the TSC in Naivasha, KUPPET petitioned the government to release Ksh 1 billion to facilitate the urgent promotion of 30,000 teachers, particularly those in job groups C4 and C5.
KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori highlighted that some teachers had been overlooked in previous promotion cycles due to serving less than three years in their current grades, despite the grades being recently established. He emphasized the need for a more inclusive and fair promotion process.
Also read: How Political Interference in Teacher Recruitment Undermines TSC’s Integrity
In an attempt to address the backlog, the TSC announced plans to promote over 25,000 teachers, with interviews conducted in January and February 2025. The commission received over 189,000 applications, underscoring the high demand for career progression among educators.
However, the process has not been without challenges. The TSC acknowledged errors in the promotion lists, including discrepancies and misprints. Officials assured that these issues would be rectified in the official promotion letters and advised teachers to await formal communication.
