Cash-strapped TSC leaves 20,000 intern teachers in job uncertainty

NAIROBI — More than 20,000 intern teachers in Kenya face an uncertain future after the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) admitted it cannot afford to give them permanent jobs.

Despite promises made during their recruitment this financial year, the TSC told MPs that a Sh3.5 billion budget gap has left it unable to confirm the interns into permanent, pensionable roles.

“The funding has not been provided,” said Cheptumo Ayabei, TSC’s Director of Finance, in a session before the National Assembly’s Education Committee on Monday. “These teachers will continue to serve as interns for the next two years unless advised otherwise.”

The admission stunned lawmakers and cast doubt on the Commission’s handling of its recruitment commitments.

A legal and political test

The delay could place the TSC at odds with a court ruling requiring intern teachers to be confirmed within one year. Ayabei acknowledged the ruling but said financial limitations may push compliance to December 2025 within the 2025/2026 financial year.

That didn’t sit well with Baringo North MP Benjamin Makilap. “You can’t bring us a budget to recruit new interns when there’s a backlog,” he told the Commission. “We need to confirm the existing intern teachers first.”

Makilap also urged the TSC to disclose a full list of registered teachers, arguing that solid data was essential to understand the scale of the recruitment crisis. “We need to quantify the numbers and the cost,” he said.

Forgotten teachers

The session also brought attention to a quieter crisis: hundreds of trained teachers over the age of 45 who have never been employed, even as interns.

Teso South MP Mary Emase questioned why older, qualified teachers were consistently left out. “Some of these professionals are nearing retirement without ever having served,” she said. “Is there any affirmative action for them?”

Julius Melly, the committee chair, echoed the concern. “We can’t keep excluding teachers because of age. Many are supporting families and have been waiting for decades,” he said. “Any teacher can be recruited up to two years before retirement.”

Luanda MP Dick Maungu proposed a policy shift to prioritise older teachers in upcoming recruitment drives. “They are still Kenyans,” he said. “We must set a minimum age for recruitment to address this historic injustice.”

Funding woes continue

The crisis facing intern teachers is only part of a deeper financial strain at the Commission.

TSC officials revealed they are also grappling with a Sh5.7 billion shortfall that threatens both medical insurance for teachers and the implementation of the next phase of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which is due to begin in July 2025.

“The current CBA ends in June next year,” said Cavin Anyuor, TSC’s Director of Legal, Labour and Industrial Relations. “We’ve written to the Treasury, but so far there has been no commitment on funding the new agreement.”

Ayabei insisted the Commission’s hands are tied. “The conversion of intern teachers depends entirely on funding,” he told MPs. “We engaged the Treasury, but due to fiscal constraints, no provision was made.”

For now, the message is clear until the money comes through, thousands of young teachers will remain stuck in limbo and many older ones may never get a chance at all.

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