A concerned teacher has written to President William Ruto over corruption and discrimination in recruitment of teachers by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
The teacher, a graduate of 2013, is calling for President Ruto to intervene and address this menace to ensure fairness in the employment exercise.
The letter comes after last year replacement of teachers exercise by TSC turned chaotic as politicians took over the exercise.
Members of parliament (MPs) were seen in public events like funerals and harambees dishing out valid employment letters to teachers.
TSC had been allocated sh 2.5 billion to fill 6,000 teacher replacement slots but instead of advertising the vacancies it gave them out for politicians to fill.
Former CS Education, Ezekiel Machogu, was also implicated after he was seen publicly issuing employment letters to certain teachers in Kisii county, devoid of merit.
Below is the letter penned by an anonymous teacher and addressed to his excellency President William Ruto.
His Excellency Dr. William Samoei Ruto, C.G.H.
President of the Republic of Kenya
P.o. Box 40530 – 00100
Nairobi
Subject: Concerns Regarding Merit-Based Recruitment in the Teachers Service Commission (TSC)
Dear Mr. President,
I trust this letter finds you well. I am a Kenyan teacher who graduated in 2013, and am compelled to write to you concerning the current state of teacher recruitment within the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
During the tenures of Presidents Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta, the recruitment process was anchored on meritocracy, ensuring fairness and equal opportunities for all deserving candidates.
However, since your administration took office in 2022, this practice appears to have been compromised,
Reports and observations indicate that political influence now plays a significant role in the recruitment process.
Politicians are seen distributing employment letters at funerals and public rallies, favoring their allies over qualified teachers.
This practice undermines the principles of fairness and integrity that the TSC should uphold, leaving many deserving teachers sidelined simply because they lack political connections.
I humbly urgeyouroffice to intervene and restore merit-based recruitment within the TSC. This will ensure that the dreams and efforts ofhardworking teachers who have dedicated themselves to their profession are not in vain.
Addressing this issue will not only restore hope to many teachers but also reinforce public confidence in your government’s commitment to justice and equity.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I trust in your leadership to make the necessary reforms for the benefit of our education sector and the nation at large.
Concerned teacher.