Senators investigate allegations that new recruits gained from the promotion of 25,000 teachers.
Senators have joined Members of the National Assembly in requesting inquiries into purportedly erroneous promotions by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), with the legislators characterizing the State agency as the “headquarters of corruption” and demanding a cleansing of its leadership.
The legislators seek an explanation from the TSC regarding the rationale behind the distribution model employed in the promotion of the 25,252 teachers, particularly concerning counties that are densely populated yet receive fewer promotions.
This development follows widespread outcry from various sectors regarding the promotions, with MPs accusing the State agency of employing obscure promotion criteria and failing to adhere to principles of equity.
MPs contended that the promotions disproportionately benefited certain regions while overlooking deserving candidates in other areas, deviating from established practices and disregarding population dynamics. Senators now appear to be aligned with their counterparts in the National Assembly, advocating for investigations into these promotions.
Sounding the alarm, Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka asserted that the TSC should be compelled to demonstrate whether the criteria employed in selecting teachers for promotion across different counties adhered to the principles of merit, equity, and inclusivity.
Lawmakers seek clarification from the TSC regarding whether a grievance redress and appeal mechanism has been established for teachers who felt aggrieved by this promotional process, as well as the number of complaints the TSC has received and the number it has resolved to date.
“The Education committee must investigate and report to this House why long-serving teachers with higher academic qualifications and graduates were either overlooked while younger teachers with lesser qualifications and years of experience were promoted during the process, and if so, the justification for this disparity,” stated Mr. Onyonka.
The committee, chaired by nominated Senator Betty Montet, is also expected to mandate the TSC to elucidate the measures it is implementing to foster transparency and accountability to address the persistent issues of career stagnation experienced by teachers. Nominated Senator Esther Okenyuri characterized the State agency as the “headquarters of corruption. ”
She alleged that certain rogue officials at the TSC solicit bribes from teachers who are already in a dire state to secure their promotions.
“In the recently concluded exercise, there are teachers who have served for over 17 years but were not promoted,” remarked Ms. Okenyuri.
“Conversely, we have teachers who have been in service for only one year and were promoted. How can this be explained? I will reference the words of a trade unionist named Benjamin Burombo, who stated, ‘when I am fighting for African rights, the other hand is busy keeping away Africans who are fighting me,’” she added.
The lawmaker demanded a complete overhaul of the agency’s leadership, asserting that the teachers’ employer is fundamentally corrupt.
“I publicly address the TSC and indicate that several of their officers have, in fact, overstayed in their positions. My concern is that the prevailing culture is such that reshuffling them may not yield beneficial results. That culture permeates from the national level to the grassroots,” stated the senator.
“I acknowledge that corruption will invariably resist change, but we will not waver on this issue. This stance is taken because educators deserve support and adequate compensation to remain motivated in providing their services to Kenyans,” she further expressed.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei supported Ms. Okenyuri’s views, concurring that the TSC serves as “the nexus of corruption and should be held accountable. ”
“There was also considerable political favoritism observed during the promotions. It has been reported that the TSC has delegated its recruitment responsibilities to other entities, including politicians, and they must be held accountable. ”
Certain teachers’ unions have expressed concerns regarding the promotions, asserting that some educators with only six months of service were elevated when the policy stipulates a minimum of three years for eligibility.
Principals are likewise unsettled by the process, contending that the quota system employed by the TSC to promote educators discriminates against regions with a higher concentration of qualified teachers.
Notwithstanding the outrage surrounding the promotions, TSC Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia has insisted that the process adhered to legal frameworks and was decentralized to ensure regional representation.