In a surprise move the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has deployed to schools the recently recruited teachers which is early than was expected.
The teachers were recruited as replacements for 9,159 teachers who exited TSC payroll in 2025 through natural attrition.
Though the issuing of appointment and posting letters were planned to start early April, some teachers have already reported and received in various schools after being posted by their TSC offices in the Sub Counties.
The teachers have not been issued with posting letters which will start next week but are armed with offer of employment letters which they are supposed to live a copy at their new station.
The process to verify teachers documents at the TSC headquarters and to confirm certificates by Knec will be hastened as the Commission implements drastic changes in TSC employment.
PTE changes posted to schools have been issued with forms which Heads of Institutions (HOIs) must complete by signing and stamping after receiving them.
TSC already invited successful applicants for primary school replacement jobs for filling of employment forms at the TSC offices in various sub counties.
The exercise started after interviews, which focused on verification of documents, were completed.
Those invited to take up employment opportunities were required to submit a number of items as listed below.
- Original and photocopy of the National ID card
- Original and photocopy of the PTE certificates and leaving certificate
- KCSE certificate and leaving certificate
- KCPE certificate and leaving certificate
- NCPWD card for teachers with disabilities
- Sworn affidavit where names differ
- NSSF, SHA cards
- Next of kin form
- Medical GP69 form
- KRA pin certificate
- Bank plate together with a duly filled bank form
In the advert, TSC declared 7,065 posts for primary schools, 12 posts for junior schools and 2,082 posts for secondary schools.
The employment is on permanent and pensionable terms to replace teachers who exited service through natural attrition.
Those qualified are teachers registered with TSC, holding a P1 certificate in the case of primary schools and a minimum of Diploma in Education in the case of junior schools and secondary schools.
The replacement jobs have opened employment opportunity for P1 teachers who have stayed in the cold for three years without any mass employment advert from TSC.
It has also created an opportunity for junior school intern teachers to try their luck for employment on permanent and pensionable terms.
The Commission has awarded 50 marks in the scoresheet to teachers who have served on internship terms.
Despite local teachers were given first priority according to the scoresheet in the order of Sub County, County and Region.
In the replacement guidelines TSC ordered the vetting panels headed by the TSC Sub County Directors to prioritize local applicants.
“Priority should be given to local applicants. Non-local applicants can only be considered once all local applicants have been exhausted,” read 2025/2026 recruitment guidelines.
This move automatically locked out non-local teachers despite their qualifications.
TSC ordered the Sub County selection panel to compile a Sub County merit list split into two.
One merit list for local applicants from the Sub County and another for no-local applicants.
The Commission listed a number of academic and professional documents that applicants were to present to the recruitment panel for verification exercise.
Applicants were required to present original and legible photocopies of the following, among other relevant documents for verification:-
List of documents required for verification for primary school teachers
1) National identification card;
2) Certificate of Registration as a teacher;
3) Evidence of the completion of Upgrade Diploma in Primary Teacher Education or UDPTE Certificate where applicable.
4) PTE Certificate;
5) KCSE certificates or its equivalent (include certificates for attempts if one resat exam);
6) KCPE certificate or it’s equivalent (include certificates for attempts if one resat exam);
7) Letter of Certification of results by KNEC (where applicable);
8) Primary and Secondary School leaving certificates and other relevant testimonials;
9) National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) Card (where applicable);
10) An Affidavit sworn under the Oaths and Statutory Declarations Act, Cap 15 of the Laws of Kenya to explain the variance in names.
List of documents required for verification for post primary school teachers (JSS and Secondary)
a) National identification card;
b) Certificate of Registration as a teacher;
c) Diploma/Degree certificate and official transcripts;
d) KCSE certificates or its equivalent (include certificates for attempts if one re-sat exams);
e) KCPE certificate or its equivalent (include certificates for attempts if one re-sat exams);
f) Primary and Secondary School leaving certificates and other relevant testimonials;
g) National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) Card (where applicable);
h) An Affidavit sworn under the Oaths and Statutory Declarations Act, Cap 15 of the Laws of Kenya to explain the variance in names;
i) Letter of certification of results by KNEC (where applicable).
However serving intern teachers are only required to present their identity cards during the
verification process.
Persons with disabilities shall be required to indicate their disability status together with the nature of disabilities to inform their placement;
After the verification exercise, the TSC Sub-County Director compiled a Merit List of all applicants whose documents have been verified.
TSC said the Merit Lists shall be made available to members of the public wishing to see them on request in a manner that will not jeopardize the recruitment process and in total adherence to the Data Protection Act, 2019.
