The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has asserted that all teachers aged forty five years and above and have not hit retirement age are eligible for employment by the Commission.

Speaking during a session in Parliament, TSC acting CEO Ms. Evaleen Mitei stated that a court order nullified previous 45 year age cap.

Ms. Mitei was responding to a concern raised by Narok County MP, Hon. Rebecca Tonkei, who raised a crucial point about older, unemployed teachers.

“Do you have the data of teachers over the age of 45 who have not been employed? Give us the data and find a way of employing them,” asked Tonkei.

TSC admitted that the previous age cap of 45 years was declared unconstitutional in 2020.

Since 2021, teachers up to 59 years and 11 months are eligible for employment.

The TSC also acknowledged proposals to prioritize older, unemployed teachers and committed to mining data on teachers above 45 who are yet to be employed.

The Commission stated that it operates as an equal opportunity employer, guided by the Constitution and relevant acts.

They outlined a transparent and non-discriminatory recruitment process, prioritizing first appointments within teachers’ own counties for retention.

The Commission plans to recruit a total of 24,000 teachers by December this year.

TSC will also confirm to permanent and pensionable terms a total of 20,000 junior school teachers currently working on internship terms.

Previously TSC CEO Nancy Macharia had said the Commission needs sh70 billion to recruit 98,461 teachers for both junior and high school in order to address the current shortage.

However Macharia, who had appeared before the Senate National Cohesion and Equal Opportunities Committee, denied claims that the commission had failed in its recruitment role by leaving it to politicians to dish out employment letters in villages.

Macharia told the committee, chaired by Marsabit Senator Mohammed Chute, that the commission has so far recruited 68,313 teachers for JSS on permanent and pensionable terms.

This followed a question by Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, who sought to know why enough teachers had not been hired to ensure quality learning for pupils.

“I would like to inform the Senate that if TSC is allocated Sh70 billion, we will be able to employ all the teachers needed in our schools. In Junior Secondary, we have a shortage of 72,442 teachers, while in Secondary schools under the 8-4-4 system, we have a shortage of 26,039 teachers,” said Macharia.

Macharia told the Committee that the commission had already recruited 9,000 teachers in the 2022/23 financial year, 39,550 teachers in the 2024/25 financial year and an additional 20,000 intern teachers who reported in January.

According to the TSC boss, this brings the total targeted recruitment to 68,550 positions.

Out of these, 68,313 teachers have so far been recruited and deployed across the country, with 237 vacancies remaining unfilled due to a lack of applicants.

Out of 68,313 Junior Secondary School teachers recruited, the Kalenjin community takes the lion share with 10,769 followed by Luhyas (10, 466), Kamba (9,557), Kikuyu (8,799), Luo (8,721) and the Abagusii at 6,796 respectively.

Senators pressed Macharia to explain why politicians were reportedly issuing teacher recruitment letters at funerals, with senators Chute and Omtatah questioning how such teachers were absorbed into the service.

She said she was unaware of the incidents but had seen media reports, adding that teacher recruitment is guided by TSC policies and procedures aimed at ensuring transparency and professionalism.

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has asserted that all teachers aged forty five years and above and have not hit retirement age are eligible for employment by the Commission.

Speaking during a session in Parliament, TSC acting CEO Ms. Evaleen Mitei stated that a court order nullified previous 45 year age cap.

Ms. Mitei was responding to a concern raised by Narok County MP, Hon. Rebecca Tonkei, who raised a crucial point about older, unemployed teachers.

“Do you have the data of teachers over the age of 45 who have not been employed? Give us the data and find a way of employing them,” asked Tonkei.

TSC admitted that the previous age cap of 45 years was declared unconstitutional in 2020.

Since 2021, teachers up to 59 years and 11 months are eligible for employment.

The TSC also acknowledged proposals to prioritize older, unemployed teachers and committed to mining data on teachers above 45 who are yet to be employed.

The Commission stated that it operates as an equal opportunity employer, guided by the Constitution and relevant acts.

They outlined a transparent and non-discriminatory recruitment process, prioritizing first appointments within teachers’ own counties for retention.

The Commission plans to recruit a total of 24,000 teachers by December this year.

TSC will also confirm to permanent and pensionable terms a total of 20,000 junior school teachers currently working on internship terms.

Previously TSC CEO Nancy Macharia had said the Commission needs sh70 billion to recruit 98,461 teachers for both junior and high school in order to address the current shortage.

However Macharia, who had appeared before the Senate National Cohesion and Equal Opportunities Committee, denied claims that the commission had failed in its recruitment role by leaving it to politicians to dish out employment letters in villages.

Macharia told the committee, chaired by Marsabit Senator Mohammed Chute, that the commission has so far recruited 68,313 teachers for JSS on permanent and pensionable terms.

This followed a question by Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, who sought to know why enough teachers had not been hired to ensure quality learning for pupils.

“I would like to inform the Senate that if TSC is allocated Sh70 billion, we will be able to employ all the teachers needed in our schools. In Junior Secondary, we have a shortage of 72,442 teachers, while in Secondary schools under the 8-4-4 system, we have a shortage of 26,039 teachers,” said Macharia.

Macharia told the Committee that the commission had already recruited 9,000 teachers in the 2022/23 financial year, 39,550 teachers in the 2024/25 financial year and an additional 20,000 intern teachers who reported in January.

According to the TSC boss, this brings the total targeted recruitment to 68,550 positions.

Out of these, 68,313 teachers have so far been recruited and deployed across the country, with 237 vacancies remaining unfilled due to a lack of applicants.

Out of 68,313 Junior Secondary School teachers recruited, the Kalenjin community takes the lion share with 10,769 followed by Luhyas (10, 466), Kamba (9,557), Kikuyu (8,799), Luo (8,721) and the Abagusii at 6,796 respectively.

Senators pressed Macharia to explain why politicians were reportedly issuing teacher recruitment letters at funerals, with senators Chute and Omtatah questioning how such teachers were absorbed into the service.

She said she was unaware of the incidents but had seen media reports, adding that teacher recruitment is guided by TSC policies and procedures aimed at ensuring transparency and professionalism.