The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers ( KUPPET ) in Kisumu County has raised concerns about the ongoing teacher recruitment process.
It has alleged that political interference is skewing the process.
During a press conference, Zablon Awange, the union’s branch secretary, criticized the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for allegedly ceding its authority to Members of Parliament.
Awange emphasized that the recruitment process has become unbalanced, resulting in schools being inadequately staffed.
“It’s well-known that politicians have encroached on TSC’s recruitment, promotions, and deployments.
Teachers backed by political patronage receive placements in schools with attractive allowances, leaving others understaffed,” he stated.
The union leader further condemned the TSC for employing arbitrary transfers under the guise of balancing staff, calling these actions punitive.
He pointed out that this has led to widespread frustration among educators, especially those with legitimate medical transfer requests that often go unaddressed.
“Teachers in Nyakach and Kisumu Central are so disillusioned that five have threatened to resign because of these politicized transfers.
Last year alone, over 50 teachers left due to these unjust practices,” Awange revealed.
KUPPET is demanding that the TSC reassert full control over recruitment and adhere to constitutional guidelines, which include public advertisements for job vacancies.
“Political meddling undermines the integrity of the recruitment process, allowing favoritism to flourish,” he warned.
In a parallel development, Naivasha MP Jane Kihara has echoed these concerns, claiming the TSC’s recruitment of 20,000 teachers is biased towards pro-government individuals and regions.
She urged a suspension of the process and an immediate investigation into these alleged discrepancies, stating that many qualified teachers could be left behind as a result.
Kihara also raised alarm about the broader education crisis, citing inadequate funding and the failure to provide necessary resources for schools.
“The lack of capitation funds has crippled many institutions, and without intervention, we risk losing the quality of education,” she said.
Amid these challenges, Naivasha Day Secondary School Principal Amos Gamba reported a surge in student enrollment, from 800 to 1,500 over five years, attributing this growth to improved academic performance and new resources, such as a recently donated bus.
“This bus will be a significant motivator for our students,” Gamba noted.
School chairman Joseph Kibuta echoed this sentiment, highlighting how the support from the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) has been essential for the largest day school in Naivasha, which caters to many students from low-income families.
“We’ve long sought this bus, and it’s a game-changer for our community,” he added.
