A public spat has erupted between Homabay Town MP Peter Kaluma and President William Ruto’s Senior Economic Advisor Moses Kuria over the controversial recruitment of teachers by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). The dispute underscores growing concerns over political interference in a process traditionally guided by merit and fairness.
Kaluma has vehemently criticised what he views as decades of marginalisation in the employment of teachers from certain regions. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Kaluma insisted that all qualified teachers deserve to be employed regardless of the method used, stating, “We demand that all qualified teachers be employed I don’t care how.”
His remarks came in response to Kuria’s earlier condemnation of politicians distributing TSC employment forms during public gatherings. Kuria termed the practice a “dangerous trend,” lamenting the erosion of professionalism in a sector that shaped many leaders. “Parading employment forms at rallies and funerals is among the worst ways to destroy a nation,” Kuria stated.
Kaluma, in turn, accused Kuria and others of historical bias, alleging that teachers from marginalised regions have been sidelined in favour of those from certain communities. “You can’t demand professionalism from TSC after employing all teachers from your region while others retire without ever being hired,” he said.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has also weighed in on the matter. KNUT Secretary-General Collins Oyuu condemned the encroachment of politicians into the recruitment space, accusing the TSC of abandoning its constitutional mandate. He highlighted cases where teachers who completed training over a decade ago remain unemployed due to systemic discrimination.
Despite the outcry, TSC CEO Nancy Macharia denied allegations of political interference, dismissing them as media speculation. Appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Implementation, she insisted that the commission adheres to proper recruitment procedures.
However, Committee Chair Eric Muchangi questioned the logic of prioritising recent graduates over long-waiting applicants, calling for fairness and humanity in the process.
As the debate intensifies, the integrity of Kenya’s teacher recruitment process hangs in the balance, with growing calls for the TSC to restore transparency and end political meddling.
