How MPs have sold over 20,000 letters for as high as Sh300,000

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is currently embroiled in controversy due to allegations that State House and politicians are influencing the recruitment of teachers nationwide.

The issue has arisen from a recent pattern where Members of Parliament and governors who meet with President William Ruto at State House receive TSC recruitment letters to distribute to their supporters, prompting concerns about the integrity and transparency of the recruitment process.

While these claims remain unverified, it is reported that over 20,000 teachers have been recruited across the country since October of last year, coinciding with the distribution of these letters to politicians aligned with the Kenya Kwanza administration.

These recruitment letters are part of the incentives, alongside financial rewards, that politicians receive during their visits to State House to ensure their loyalty.

In contrast to those recruited by the TSC, who work under two-year contracts earning a monthly stipend of Sh25,000, individuals recruited through this political channel are granted permanent and pensionable positions without the same scrutiny.

Stakeholders in the education sector argue that this new practice undermines the chances of deserving and qualified teachers to secure jobs based on merit, as it has been co-opted by politicians who favor their loyal supporters and family members.

Interestingly, some MPs are profiting from these letters, selling them for between Sh200,000 and Sh300,000 each.

Sources indicate that each legislator, whether a Senator or a Member of the National Assembly, receives at least 20 TSC recruitment letters during their visits to State House, depending on their perceived loyalty to the President and the Kenya Kwanza administration. Those who vocally support the government and President Ruto tend to receive more letters than their quieter counterparts.

Governors, on the other hand, typically receive between 100 and 200 letters, contingent on the size of their counties, their loyalty, and their ability to rally voter support for the President.

Yesterday, Murang’a Woman Representative Betty Njeri Maina confirmed that elected officials from her county who visited State House last week were each given letters as a token of appreciation for their support of the President.

“I was quite disappointed with the MPs from my county who chose to boycott the trip, as only Mathioya MP Edwin Gichuki Mugo attended. Look at a county like Kiambu, which has 11 MPs, each receiving 20 slots. That means they left with 220 opportunities for their constituents,” she stated.

Another lawmaker, Ferdinand Wanyonyi from Kwanza, expressed his delight on Saturday as he traveled through his constituency distributing 20 letters he had received from State House to individuals he deemed deserving.

Today, I had the privilege of presenting appointment letters from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to educators in Kwanza Constituency. Congratulations to all the teachers embarking on this honorable career. Your commitment will play a vital role in shaping our children’s future,” Wanyonyi later shared on his Facebook page.

To date, the President has engaged with delegations of Members of Parliament, senators, and governors from various counties in Nyanza, Western, Coast, parts of Rift Valley, North Eastern, and Eastern regions, except for the counties in Ukambani, Nairobi, and Mt. Kenya, where recruitment letters have been distributed to all participants.

This situation has sparked outrage from the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), which has submitted letters to the TSC, the Office of the President, and the National Assembly, protesting against the replacement of merit in teacher recruitment with “political affiliation.”

Moses Nthurima, the union’s Deputy Secretary General, stated that despite their ongoing protests since the Kenya Kwanza administration took office, conditions have continued to worsen.

State’s ‘no comment’
“It is regrettable that the TSC has relinquished its responsibility for hiring teachers and allowed politicians to take over, using it as a campaign tool for 2027. If recruitment criteria depend on one’s closeness to an MP, what happens to those without access to their lawmakers?” Nthurima questioned.

The trade unionist noted that the TSC has stopped advertising job vacancies in newspapers and online, as elected officials have assumed this role.

Attempts to contact TSC Secretary Nancy Macharia were unsuccessful, as she did not answer phone calls or respond to text messages.

Similarly, calls and messages to State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed and Head of Presidential Communication Service (PCS) Munyori Buku went unanswered.

In Parliament, Julius Melly, the chairman of the Education Committee, whose Tinderet constituency is reportedly one of the main beneficiaries of the President’s recruitment initiatives, declined to comment on the matter.

The TSC is tasked with hiring and managing teachers, typically through a merit-based system. Vacancies are first advertised, followed by competitive interviews, with priority given to recent graduates.

Nthurima indicated that the union is contemplating legal action to halt these practices. Vihiga branch secretary Sabala Inyeni expressed concern that the current approach undermines the integrity of the TSC’s mandate, leading to the hiring of teachers based on political connections rather than qualifications and experience.

“It is alarming that this could turn teacher recruitment into a political favor, prioritizing individuals who may not meet the necessary qualifications over others,” Inyeni remarked.

Inyeni also emphasized that while addressing unemployment is important, it should not come at the expense of undermining established institutions like the TSC.

Makueni MP Suzzane Ndunge Kiamba urged the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to uphold its responsibilities and not allow politicians to influence its operations, emphasizing that teacher recruitment should be conducted in accordance with the law.

Trans Nzoia’s George Natembeya condemned this practice, asserting that elected officials who do not support President Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza administration have been excluded from opportunities.

Earlier this year, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna highlighted the need for a fair system that ensures all qualified individuals have access to employment opportunities without political interference. He alleged that some of his ODM colleagues were being lured with TSC recruitment offers to gain their support for the government.