President William Ruto’s Senior Economic Advisor Moses Kuria has condemned the growing trend of politicising the recruitment of teachers, warning that such practices threaten the integrity of public service and education in Kenya.
In a strongly worded statement on Tuesday, Kuria criticised politicians for parading teachers’ employment forms at public functions, describing it as “a great idea on how to destroy a nation.” He lamented the decline in standards, saying, “It’s so sad, especially for us, the products of great teachers. We have sunk this low, sadly.”
Kuria’s remarks come amid growing public outcry over the alleged interference of politicians in the teacher recruitment process. The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has also raised the alarm, accusing political actors of hijacking a process meant to be merit-based.
KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu, during a recent press briefing, expressed frustration with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), claiming it had surrendered its constitutional mandate. “Never in the history of the TSC have we seen what is happening now,” Oyuu stated. “The manner in which employment forms are being distributed by some politicians leaves much to be desired.”
Oyuu highlighted the injustice faced by long-serving, unemployed teachers who continue to be overlooked in favour of recent graduates with political connections. “Be human. We have teachers over 50 years old who are not employed. Where do you want them to go?” he questioned.
Despite commending President Ruto’s push to expand employment opportunities for teachers, Oyuu urged the head of state to ensure recruitment is handled with transparency and fairness. “Yes, you can assist through TSC, but you must be fair and human,” he added.
In response, TSC CEO Nancy Macharia dismissed the claims as media speculation, insisting the commission upholds recruitment principles. However, lawmakers such as Runyenjes MP Eric Muchangi have challenged her assertion, citing incidents where Cabinet Secretaries have distributed employment letters at funerals and churches.
“This doesn’t augur well with the nation,” Muchangi warned, calling for an end to the controversial practice.
The debate underscores the urgent need for reforms to safeguard meritocracy and restore public trust in teacher recruitment.
