Teacher shortages per county: Latest TSC news

Kakamega county has the highest teacher shortage in the country. This is according to the latest data provided by the Teachers Service Commission, TSC. The Western region county, Kakamega, needs about 3,544 more teachers in order to attain its curriculum based establishment (CBE).

Bungoma county, also from the western region, has a shortfall of 2,813 teachers while Bomet county (from the Rift Valley region) requires an extra 2,813 tutors.

Kirinya county (in the central region) has the lowest teacher deficit as it requires only 30 more teachers.

TSC says primary schools currently have a total of 211,046 teachers out of the required number of 259,219. This gives a shortfall of 48,173 teachers in the whole country.

Table: Staffing gaps for primary school teachers per county

S/NO	COUNTY	TEACHER SHORTAGE
2	Kakamega county	3,544
7	Bungoma county	2,813
9	Bomet county	2,813
8	West Pokot county	2,489
10	Narok county	2,272
12	Homa Bay county	1,897
13	Turkana county	1,762
14	Kwale county	1,571
15	Migori county	1,495
16	Nandi county	1,441
17	Siaya county	1,438
18	Makueni county	1,398
19	Busia county	1,381
20	Mandera county	1,125
21	Kajiado county	1,000
22	Kisumu county	969
23	Baringo county	907
24	Machakos county	897
25	Kisii county	848
26	Wajir county	847
27	Trans Nzoia county	844
28	Vihiga county	762
29	Kericho county	727
30	Meru county	705
31	Garissa county	687
32	Tana River county	462
33	Marsabit county	460
34	Murang’a county	423
35	Embu county	367
36	Elgeyo Marakwet county	347
37	Tharaka Nithi county	336
38	Nyandarua county	329
39	Nyeri county	321
40	Samburu county	315
3	Laikipia county	241
4	Mombasa county	229
5	Lamu county	113
6	Isiolo county	78
1	Kirinyaga county	30

In terms of percentage shortfalls, Kirinyaga, Kiambu, Uasin Gishu, Nyeri, Nyandarua, Murang’a, Meru, Laikipia, Isiolo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Embu and Nairobi have the least shortage of teachers. Kakamega, Kitui, Bungoma and Nakuru have the highest percentage shortfalls.

Dr. Nancy Macharia the TSC CEO. She says the country is faced with a shortfall of about 50,000 primary school teachers.

The commission says it has become difficult to address the teething gaps due to budgetary constraints. The commission has since started employing teachers on internships (alongside those on permanent and pensionable terms) to try and address the shortages. This is because lesser funds are required to enlist teachers’ services under the internship programme as opposed to the permanent and pensionable terms. The redeployment of teachers from primary to secondary schools has further created staffing gaps in the primary schools.

The commission uses set recruitment guidelines to ensure fairness during the process of employing new teachers. read the latest guidelines here; TSC Teachers’ mass recruitment guidelines and marking scheme.

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