Former Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General, Wilson Sossion, has called for a thorough investigation into the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) over alleged rampant corruption within the institution. Speaking to Citizen TV, Sossion accused TSC of systemic corruption involving bribery for teacher employment and promotions, practices that he claims have severely undermined the quality of education in Kenya.
Sossion’s allegations date back to his tenure at KNUT, during which he reportedly observed extensive corruption, including teachers paying bribes to secure employment. He raised questions about how new teachers are often hired without any public advertisements for the positions, alleging that these jobs are secured through corrupt dealings between applicants and government officials. “For you to be employed as a P1 teacher, you must pay Ksh.350,000, and some of these employment letters are sold through government officers. To be employed as a graduate costs Ksh.500,000, and to be promoted requires Ksh.150,000,” Sossion said.
Sossion expressed his willingness to testify as an insider in any forensic investigations into these claims, emphasizing the gravity of the issue as it pertains to the future of Kenya’s children. “I’m willing to be a witness in all these forensic processes as an insider who has worked in this space. I am ready to defend it in a court of law or anywhere because this is a very serious matter. We are talking about the destruction of the lives of the children of this country,” he stated.
He urged the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), and the Auditor General to swiftly probe the TSC, highlighting four key areas for investigation: the financial system and transactions, particularly remittances of third parties; the process of teacher employment over the last five years; the criteria for teacher promotions in the last five years; and an examination of unconstitutional policies within TSC. “The situation at TSC is a situation where angels would weep because of the magnitude of corruption. This may necessitate sending the commissioners and the CEO home,” Sossion added.
These allegations come amidst a nationwide strike by teachers, who are demanding permanent employment for 46,000 Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers, the promotion of 130,000 teachers, the immediate implementation of the second phase of the 2021/2025 amended Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between TSC and KNUT, and the prompt remittance of third-party deductions owed to their respective organizations.
KNUT has stated that, following discussions with TSC, the teachers’ employer claimed to have promoted 51,232 teachers, remitted the third-party deductions, and was in the process of implementing the amended CBA. However, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has continued to express dissatisfaction, with members threatening to take to the streets to demand better healthcare, promotions, and the confirmation of JSS teachers to permanent and pensionable status, among other issues.
KUPPET Secretary-General Akelo Misori noted that despite assurances from TSC, the union remains skeptical until all demands are fully met. However, KNUT Secretary-General Collins Oyuu emphasized that 90% of the demands made by KUPPET have been addressed, and that JSS teachers will be confirmed as permanent employees within a few months.
The ongoing standoff between the teachers’ unions and TSC underscores the broader challenges within Kenya’s education sector, particularly around issues of governance, transparency, and fair treatment of educators. As investigations into the alleged corruption within TSC unfold, the outcomes could have far-reaching implications for the sector and its stakeholders, especially the students who are ultimately affected by these systemic issues.
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