Kalenjin Community Dominates Ethnic Breakdown of 36,000 Newly Hired Teachers by TSC
In a recent interim report presented to Parliament by the CEO of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), Nancy Macharia, it has been disclosed that the majority of the 36,000 newly hired teachers are from the Kalenjin community.
The report sheds light on the ethnic distribution of the recruits and raises questions regarding the equitable allocation of teaching positions.
According to the report, which covers 20,990 out of the 36,000 newly recruited teachers, the Kalenjin community secured the highest number of teaching slots.
The other major tribes, such as Luhya, Kikuyu, Kamba, Luo, and Kisii, also received a significant number of positions.
In contrast, several smaller communities were allocated very few or no slots.
Notably, the Kenya Arabs, Elmolo, and Murulle communities were each granted only one slot, while Ogaden, Dorobo, Rendille, and Sakuye communities received two slots each.
Calls for Transparency and Inclusion
Members of the National Assembly’s Cohesion and Equal Opportunity Committee, including Kasipul MP Charles Were and Laikipia Woman Representative Jane Kagiri, demanded a more comprehensive report.
Were expressed concern over the apparent overemployment of certain communities and called for the disclosure of names and the staff register.
He emphasized the need to rectify historical employment injustices within the teaching profession.
Kagiri echoed the sentiments, urging the commission to reveal the specific postings of the 36,000 teachers and allocate sufficient personnel to special schools.
She commended the employment of all Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) who applied and emphasized the importance of addressing the needs of children with special needs.
Commission’s Response
In response to the committee’s inquiries, Macharia requested additional time to provide a detailed report by June, as the commission is currently updating its records.
She highlighted the age distribution of the recruits, ranging from 21 to 56 years, with the majority being 28 years old.
Macharia also revealed that 43 percent of the newly recruited teachers were female, while 57 percent were male.
She further stated that the commission had prioritized the recruitment of all PWDs who applied for employment, resulting in the hiring of 229 individuals with various forms of disabilities.
Explaining the inadequate allocation of teachers to special schools, Macharia attributed the issue to financial constraints.
She assured the committee that special schools were considered disadvantaged areas and received additional support beyond what was provided to other schools.
Additionally, she informed the lawmakers that the commission aims to recruit an additional 20,000 teachers in the upcoming financial year, pending approval of their budget proposal by the National Assembly.
Kalenjin Community Dominates Ethnic Breakdown of 36,000 Newly Hired Teachers by TSC
