Teachers across the country are mobilizing to make the event a successful rendezvous, jamboree, or whatever you may want to call it. But confident organizers say they want it widely memorable and sufficiently publicized as much as possible to reach the breadth and width of the country.
The organization teams are already sharing invitations through various social media platforms, including the highly credible ‘Wadau Wa Elimu,’ to reach as many teachers as possible.
This is a new high: Teachers have employed all the tactics in the book to express their disapproval of Macharia’s tenure at the helm of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
The widely circulated invitation seen by Education News says,’ Join us in celebrating the retirement on June 20, 2025, at the TSC HQ. Thereafter to a goat eating party to a venue which will be confirmed later. “KILICHO NA MWANZO, HAKIKOSI MWISHO” (WHAT HAS A BEGINNING HAS NO END).
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The motives behind these anticipated parties are not yet clear. But it appears that these anonymous groups are intent on disparaging and maligning any other possible event that the TSC Secretariat may plan in one of the leading hotels in Nairobi to give Dr Macharia a befitting send-off after a chequered career of 10 years at the apex of the biggest single employer in Kenya and beyond.
they seem very clear in their minds on when she will pack her bags and leave the Commission, the group seems to be fired up by some whiff from insiders at the TSC Headquarters, who are chancing that such an event may happen the same day. Well, time will vindicate us when that day arrives.
Opinions will always be divided. Despite the huge criticisms of Macharia’s administration, which have attracted hue and cry from many quarters, optimistic teachers and other sober brains view her differently as a human being with faults.
The latter group argues that her critics are blind to the huge reforms she has made, among other things, to ensure the digitization of TSC operations.
A teacher who responded to our enquiries about Macharia’s legacy bluntly told us, “ Yes, Dr Macharia failed in some areas, just as she is not a saint. To whom will they credit that if they receive salaries on the 28th of every month? Folks, let’s see the bigger picture. Maligning others won’t help. I refuse to join the so-called parties,” said a teacher who teaches in a school in Laikipia.
He was emphatic in his position that the CEO did her part, and she deserves praise for what she did.
“Can I remind the old teachers about their payslips that were delivered through DEOs those days, who would them with abandon before dispatching them through school principals, who would also read through the payslips before reaching the teachers? This bureaucracy was terrible. Yet Macharia fixed this once and for all, and each teacher accesses her payslip from her T-Pay monthly. That is remarkable in many ways,” he says matter-of-factly.
Such are the sentiments. The critics, on the other hand, say Dr Macharia undermined teachers in her leadership and never consulted enough in coming up with far-reaching reforms at the Commission.
‘Look at the Delocalization policy and the much-loathed Career Progression Guidelines (CPG). Why did she go ahead despite protests from teacher unions and unilaterally implemented the controversial policies? Most teachers have since died due to the effects of these bad decisions. For Macharia’s exit, it is nothing short of good riddance!’ said a bitter teacher serving in Rift Valley.
‘I am in for the parties wherever it will be near me. We have to admonish her terrible legacy. She messed up the teaching profession, and we will remember her as so for the rest of our lives. She broke my brother’s family in Bomet when his wife was transferred far away from home. The rest is history,’ Said the visibly agitated teacher.
Whichever way, Nancy Macharia will leave TSC with foes and friends and have to live with that. However, she may choose to ignore the noises surrounding her tenure as TSC CDO and leave her history to judge her work in the future. Time, after all, is the greatest healer!
By our reporter
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