Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has responded to the concerns by Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) over alleged irregular teacher promotions by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Speaking on Sunday during the 60th anniversary of Kereri High School in Kisii, Ogamba refused to discuss the politics surrounding TSC’s promotion process but said promotions are being done within the guidelines.
“Promotions come depending on available spaces and performance. TSC is an independent body and as you know it is currently doing the process. Interviews are done and the commission is analyzing the results to see who will be promoted,” Ogamba said.
Teachers Unions Cry Foul Over Promotion Criteria
The controversy over irregular promotions started on January 30, 2025 when KUPPET officials raised concerns over the unfair and discriminatory manner in which promotion slots were being distributed across different counties.
According to KUPPET Secretary General Moses Nthurima, the commission was not allocating promotion slots proportionately to counties with the highest number of teachers.
“We want to see the commission allocate proportionately the slots of promotion. Counties with more teachers should get more slots so that it’s fair,” Nthurima said.
KNUT Wants Equitable Teacher Promotions
On February 6, 2025, KNUT First National Vice Chairperson Malel Lang’at criticized the promotion of only 25,288 teachers, saying it was not enough to address career stagnation and professional growth of teachers.
Lang’at pointed fingers at TSC’s mission to staff schools in marginalized areas, which he said had worsened inequality in the promotion process.
“Many teachers have qualified for promotions yet TSC is delaying the process. Even the recent promotions did not address the issue enough,” Lang’at said.
Will TSC Listen?
With KUPPET and KNUT demanding transparency, TSC must now rethink and do it fairly.
As stakeholders push for a transparent and merit based, the question is: Will TSC act on teachers’ concerns or will it continue to ignore them?