TSC Secures Supreme Court Order as JSS Interns Return to Classrooms Amid Funding Tussle
Thousands of Junior Secondary School (JSS) intern teachers have begun returning to their stations following a landmark Supreme Court order that paved the way for the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to proceed with its recruitment and management of the internship program.
The legal victory for the Commission effectively halts the strike action that had disrupted learning in several public schools across the country.
Currently, the TSC oversees a massive workforce of 44,000 intern teachers in Junior Schools—comprising 20,000 recruited in January 2025 and an additional 24,000 who joined in January 2026.
A Legacy of Internship
The TSC internship program, which was inaugurated in 2019 to address teacher shortages, has recently become a flashpoint for labor disputes.
For the last one week, the Commission has been beseeching interns to resume their duties, maintaining that while their services are vital, the transition to full employment is strictly tied to the availability of the national budget.
“Following the Court’s judgment delivered on 27th February 2026, the Commission is actively pursuing the necessary budgetary provisions to facilitate the employment of the 44,000 serving teacher interns on permanent and pensionable terms,” TSC acting CEO Eveleen Mitei had said in a press statement.
“In this regard, the Commission appeals to teacher interns to grant the Government adequate time to mobilize the required resources to support their transition to permanent and pensionable employment”.
Low pay with mandatory statutory deductions
In addition to the struggle for job security, JSS interns are facing a significant financial squeeze due to stagnant pay and rising statutory deductions.
Currently, a Junior School intern is entitled to a gross monthly stipend of Sh 20,000. However, after mandatory deductions, the “take-home” pay drops to approximately Sh 17,000.
The Breakdown of Deductions
The Sh 3,000 difference is largely consumed by three primary government mandates:
- SHIF (Social Health Insurance Fund): The replacement for NHIF, which takes a percentage of the gross pay.
- NSSF (National Social Security Fund): Contributions toward the teacher’s retirement savings.
- Housing Levy: The 1.5% deduction introduced to fund the government’s affordable housing project.
The Road to Permanent Terms
TSC has previously stated that it will need sh 30 billion to convert all the 44,000 intern teachers to permanent terms.
The Commission is currently seeking Sh 7.2 billion in the upcoming July budget.
This allocation is specifically intended to convert the first cohort of 20,000 teachers—those recruited in early 2025—to permanent and pensionable (PnP) terms, effective January 2027.
However, this news has left a cloud of uncertainty over the 24,000 interns recruited in 2026.
Their fate remains unknown as the government grapples with fiscal constraints and long-term education spending plans.
The Two-Year Rule
The delay in confirmation aligns with the policy stance taken by President William Ruto. The President has previously emphasized that all government interns, including those under the TSC, must serve a mandatory two-year period before they can be considered for permanent and pensionable status.
Ruto said that Internship is a period of mentorship and service. While the government is committed to absorbing these professionals, he noted that it must be done within the framework of our two-year policy and the nation’s financial capacity.
TSC Announces Fresh Recruitment of 16,000 Interns for November
Even as the debate over permanent employment rages, the Teachers Service Commission has confirmed plans to recruit an additional 16,000 teachers in November 2026.
This new cohort is intended to plug critical staffing gaps in both Junior and Senior Schools as the government prepares for the full transition of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Tense Return to School
While many teachers have complied with the court order to avoid disciplinary action, the atmosphere remains tense.
Baringo Kuppet representatives have expressed concerns that “forcing” teachers back through legal mandates rather than dialogue may affect morale.
As the second term begins, all eyes remain on the National Assembly to see if the Sh 7.2 billion request will be approved in July, providing a much-needed light at the end of the tunnel for at least half of the embattled JSS workforce.