Treasury Cabinet Secretary (CS) John Mbadi has finally come out to speak on the issue bedeviling junior school intern teachers.
In an interview in a local radio station broadcasting in Luo language today morning 5th November, the CS has addressed the issue of junior school teachers working on internship terms and whose contracts are set to expire in December.
In a Mayienga FM radio exchange, CS Mbadi has said that the teachers conversion to permanent and pensionable terms is a government priority.
Mbadi assured the teachers of confirmation to pnp come January 2026. He said Treasury will allocate sh. 5.4 billion funds for the exercise saying its a done deal.
His sentiments come at a time the government is pressured to ensure the teachers are converted for decent salaries.
The teachers who were recruited in November and posted to schools in January this year are on a one year internship contract running from 1st January to 31st December 2025.
They are currently earning a monthly stipend of sh 20,000. However they take home sh. 17,000 after SHIF, Housing levy and NSSF deductions
On Tuesday this week, Nairobi Senator, Edwin Sifuna, expressed shock on the salaries the teachers earn each month.
“Junior secondary school teachers are earning a full time salary of Ksh. 17,000. Surviving in this city on Ksh, 17,000 is almost a miracle,” said Sifuna.
Should TSC confirm the graduate teachers, the lowest will be placed in job group C2 to earn a net salary of sh. 38,000 a month for those in non-hardship areas and 47,000 for those in hardship areas.
TSC is expected to advertise the 20,000 junior school teaching jobs on permanent terms.
This is likely to happen in December. Serving intern teachers will be awarded 50 marks making their conversion automatic.
They will only be required to produce a national ID card to complete the transition from internship to pnp.
In 2024 a total of 39,550 junior school teachers had to push the government to confirm them to pnp terms after carrying out countrywide strike.
TSC had on its payroll a total of 46,000 teachers who were then serving on internship terms.
These were 21,550 junior school and 4,000 primary school intern teachers who were recruited in February 2023.
450 secondary school intern teachers recruited in April 2023. 18,000 junior school and 2,000 primary school intern teachers recruited in September 2023.
Some of the interns had renewed their contract and had served for two years but still confirmation was not on sight.
However through their national strike the teachers forced the government to convert them to pnp.
TSC absorbed them to pnp payroll in January 2025. After serving for six months as a requirement for probation the teachers payslips have now changed from prob. (probation) to pnp.
Besides better salaries the teachers also enjoy a comprehensive medical cover, entitlement to leaves and personal loans among other benefits.
The Education CS said additional 16,000 junior school intern teachers will be recruited in 2026.
Currently TSC is finalizing recruitment of 24,000 junior school intern teachers.
TSC will start document verification exercise for the teachers in December.
The teachers will be posted to schools in January to support the Competency Based Education (CBE).