How TSC Boss Nancy Macharia Survived Pressure From Politicians And Unions For 10 years {Exclusive}
How TSC Chief Nancy Macharia Endured Political and Union Pressures for a Decade (Exclusive)
Outgoing CEO of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), Nancy Macharia, has shared insights into the challenging experiences she encountered during her ten years leading the commission, particularly the numerous teachers’ strikes that impacted the education sector.
In an exclusive interview, Macharia discussed the significant pressure of overseeing over 300,000 teachers, especially during stalled salary negotiations.
She recounted how teachers’ unions, including the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), organized nationwide protests that disrupted public school learning for extended periods.
According to her, finding a balance between the unions’ demands and the government’s expectations was one of her greatest challenges.
“There were times I felt trapped between conflicting interests. Teachers sought more, but resources were constrained,” she remarked.
Nevertheless, Macharia emphasized that each strike or protest offered a chance for negotiation and eventual compromise.
She also discussed the contentious delocalization policy, which involved relocating teachers far from their home counties and led to significant backlash.
While she defended the policy’s original goals of fostering national integration and professionalism, she acknowledged the need for better implementation and increased stakeholder consultation.
Reflecting on her legacy, Macharia highlighted several achievements, such as the digitization of teacher records, the introduction of competency-based training, and enhancements in recruitment processes. However, she recognized that not all her decisions were well-received.
“I depart from this position knowing I gave my all. I made mistakes, yes, but I also initiated significant reforms that will benefit the teaching profession for years to come,” she stated.
As her tenure comes to an end, education stakeholders are eager to see who will succeed her and how they will address the challenges that remain. For now, Macharia’s decade at TSC stands out as one of the most significant periods in the history of Kenya’s education sector.
