TSC Seeks Sh70 Billion to Hire 98,000 Teachers Nationwide

• May 15, 2025

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced it needs Sh70 billion to recruit 98,461 teachers to address the current shortage in junior secondary and high schools across Kenya. This was revealed by TSC Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia during a meeting with the Senate National Cohesion Committee, chaired by Marsabit Senator Mohammed Chute.

Macharia explained that the teacher shortage stands at 72,442 for Junior Secondary and 26,039 for high schools under the 8-4-4 system. She noted that if the TSC received the requested funds, it could effectively resolve the teacher deficit across the country.

Responding to questions from Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, Macharia dismissed claims that politicians had taken over the recruitment process. Allegations had emerged suggesting that teachers were being hired during funeral events, bypassing official procedures. She firmly stated that the TSC has never issued recruitment letters through politicians and that all hiring follows the commission’s guidelines at the subcounty level.

So far, the TSC has hired 68,313 Junior Secondary School teachers on permanent and pensionable terms. Recruitment efforts have been consistent, with 9,000 teachers employed in the 2022–23 financial year, 39,550 more in 2024/2025, and an additional 20,000 interns reporting to schools in January 2025.

However, 237 positions remain unfilled due to a lack of applicants, particularly in hardship areas. These include 56 permanent roles in Mandera and 181 intern vacancies spread across Mandera, Marsabit, and Wajir.

Macharia highlighted that the subcounty-level recruitment process ensures fairness and equal opportunity for all Kenyans. Data presented to the committee showed that the Kalenjin community had the highest number of recruited teachers at 10,769, followed by Luhya (10,466), Kamba (9,557), Kikuyu (8,799), Luo (8,721), and Abagusii (6,796). Other communities like Ameru, Mijikenda, Maasai, and Somali also had significant representation.

Despite this transparency, senators pressed Macharia for clarity on reports of political interference in the hiring process. Senator Chute questioned whether any of the 68,000 hires were made through non-professional means. Omtatah added that any breach of policy should have led to resignations from responsible officials.

Macharia stood her ground, asserting that the TSC has strictly followed its recruitment policies and that the claims of political involvement were unfounded. She emphasized that recruitment decisions are made based on classroom populations and regional teacher shortages, with no external interference.