TSC Re-Advertises CEO Position After High Court Order, Sets October 30 Deadline
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has officially reopened the recruitment process for its Secretary/Chief Executive Officer position, days after a Kiambu High Court order directed the Commission to start the process afresh.
In an advertisement issued on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, TSC invited qualified Kenyans to apply for the powerful position, giving interested candidates a full one-month window to submit their applications.
The deadline for applications is Friday, October 30, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. East African Time.
The fresh advertisement follows a September 17, 2026, order by the Kiambu High Court, which directed that the recruitment process be restarted from scratch.
With the new advertisement, the Commission has now formally commenced the fresh process and has provided detailed information on the qualifications, responsibilities, remuneration and benefits attached to the position.
TSC CEO recruitment starts afresh
The Secretary/CEO position is one of the most influential offices within the Teachers Service Commission.
The holder will serve as the head of the TSC secretariat and will be responsible for implementing decisions, policies and strategies approved by the Commission.
According to the fresh advertisement, TSC is seeking applications pursuant to Article 250(12) of the Constitution of Kenya and Section 16(1) of the Teachers Service Commission Act, Cap 212.
The Commission is an independent constitutional commission established under Article 237 of the Constitution, with the responsibility of managing teachers and undertaking other functions provided under the Constitution and the TSC Act.
The Secretary/CEO will therefore occupy a central position in the management of the country’s teaching service.
The successful candidate will serve for five years, with the possibility of being re-appointed for one further five-year term.
This means the successful applicant could potentially serve for a maximum of 10 years, subject to the applicable appointment and reappointment process.
What will the new TSC CEO be responsible for?
The advertisement gives a detailed description of the responsibilities attached to the office.
The Secretary/CEO will serve as the head of the TSC secretariat and will also be the Accounting Officer of the Commission.
The office holder will further act as the custodian of all records of the Commission.
Among the key responsibilities will be executing decisions made by the Commission and assigning duties to, as well as supervising, TSC employees.
The CEO will also be expected to facilitate, coordinate and ensure the execution of the Commission’s mandate.
Another major responsibility will be ensuring that TSC staff comply with public ethics and values.
The successful candidate will also be responsible for the proper and diligent implementation of Part IV of the Teachers Service Commission Act.
In addition, the CEO will perform other duties assigned by the Commission under the TSC Act or any other written law.
The responsibilities mean the position goes beyond ordinary administrative duties, with the office holder expected to oversee the day-to-day operations of the country’s teacher management institution.
TSC sets qualifications for applicants
TSC has also clearly outlined the minimum requirements that applicants must meet before they can be considered for the position.
First, an applicant must be a Kenyan citizen.
The candidate must also hold a degree in education from a university recognized in Kenya.
In addition, applicants must have accumulated at least 10 years of experience in areas covering education, administration and management, public administration, human resource management or financial management.
Applicants must also satisfy the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution, which deals with leadership and integrity.
The qualifications therefore narrow the field to candidates with substantial professional experience in education, administration, management or related areas.
The education degree requirement is particularly significant because the position is at the helm of an institution responsible for managing teachers across Kenya.
CEO position comes with nearly Ksh700,000 monthly salary
Apart from the responsibilities attached to the position, the TSC advertisement has also provided a detailed breakdown of the compensation and benefits that will be available to the successful candidate.
According to the advert, the position currently attracts a gross monthly salary of Ksh698,600.
The CEO will also receive an airtime allowance of Ksh15,000 per month.
In addition, the office comes with an annual leave allowance of Ksh50,000.
The remuneration and benefits are subject to guidelines issued by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) from time to time.
The package therefore includes both monetary compensation and a range of other benefits associated with the senior constitutional commission position.
Official vehicle included in CEO package
The successful candidate will also be provided with an official vehicle.
According to the advertisement, the official vehicle will have an engine capacity of not more than 3000cc.
The position will also come with security as advised by the Inspector-General of Police.
TSC has specified that the security benefit will not be commuted to cash.
The CEO will also be entitled to daily subsistence allowance when undertaking local or foreign travel.
These allowances will be paid according to rates reviewed and set by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission from time to time.
Medical cover for CEO, spouse and children
The TSC CEO will also receive a comprehensive annual medical cover.
The cover will extend to the office holder, one spouse and up to four children below the age of 25 years who are fully dependent on the officer.
The medical package includes an inpatient limit of Ksh10 million.
The outpatient benefit is set at Ksh300,000, while maternity cover stands at Ksh150,000.
The package further provides Ksh75,000 for dental care and another Ksh75,000 for optical treatment.
The medical benefits form part of the overall compensation package outlined in the advertisement.
CEO eligible for Ksh30 million mortgage benefit
One of the notable benefits attached to the position is the car loan and mortgage scheme.
The successful CEO will be eligible for a car loan of up to Ksh6 million and a mortgage benefit of up to Ksh30 million.
The advertisement states that the applicable interest rate will be 3 per cent per annum for the duration of the loan.
The mortgage scheme can run for a maximum of 20 years, while the car loan has a maximum repayment period of five years.
The schemes will be administered and managed centrally by the National Treasury under existing regulations and will be subject to availability of funds.
Retirement benefit and insurance
The position also comes with a substantial retirement benefit.
TSC states that the CEO will be paid a service gratuity equivalent to 31 per cent of annual pensionable emoluments for the term served.
The office holder will also receive group life insurance equivalent to three times the annual pensionable emoluments.
The group personal accident cover will similarly be equivalent to three times the annual pensionable emoluments, alongside other benefits available under the Group Personal Accident cover.
These benefits will form part of the terms applicable to the successful candidate during their tenure.
How to apply for the TSC CEO position
TSC has provided three channels through which candidates can submit their applications.
Applicants can download the application form from the TSC website and submit it together with a detailed curriculum vitae, certified copies of their National Identity Card or passport, academic and professional certificates and testimonials.
The application form is also available electronically through the TSC online application portal.
Candidates can submit their applications online through the TSC recruitment portal.
They can also submit their applications by email in PDF format to chairperson2026@tsc.go.ke.
Alternatively, applicants can hand-deliver their applications during official working hours in a sealed envelope.
The envelope should be clearly marked “Application for the post of Secretary/Chief Executive Officer” and delivered to the office of the Commission Chairman at TSC House, 3rd Floor, Tower Wing, Kilimanjaro Road, Upper Hill, Nairobi.
Five clearance certificates required
TSC has also made it mandatory for applicants to submit copies of clearance certificates from five different institutions.
These include the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and a recognized Credit Reference Bureau (CRB).
The requirement is part of the Commission’s vetting process for applicants seeking the senior position.
TSC has warned that providing false information will constitute an offence.
The Commission further states that documents submitted by applicants will be verified with the relevant bodies to establish their authenticity.
October 30 is the key deadline
Those interested in the position have until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 30, 2026, to submit their applications.
The one-month application window gives potential candidates time to prepare their application forms, update their CVs, obtain the required certificates and ensure that their supporting documents are properly certified.
TSC has emphasized that applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
The Commission has also warned candidates against canvassing.
According to the advertisement, canvassing in any form will lead to automatic disqualification.
Only candidates who make it through the shortlisting stage will be contacted for interviews.
TSC says the names of all applicants and the interview schedule for shortlisted candidates will be published in the print media and on the Commission’s website after the advertisement closes and the shortlisting process is completed.
Fresh contest for TSC’s top administrative position
The September 29 advertisement effectively opens a new chapter in the recruitment of the person who will serve as TSC Secretary/CEO.
Coming after the September 17 Kiambu High Court order directing the recruitment process to start afresh, the latest advert sets out a new application process with clear requirements and a fresh deadline.
The position places the successful candidate at the centre of TSC’s secretariat operations, including implementation of Commission decisions, supervision of staff, financial accountability and coordination of the Commission’s mandate.
For potential applicants, the immediate focus will be meeting the minimum requirements and submitting all the required documents before the October 30 deadline.
The fresh recruitment process will ultimately determine who takes up one of the country’s most significant positions in teacher management for the next five-year term, subject to the provisions governing appointment and possible reappointment.