Senior Presidential Advisor Moses Kuria has strongly condemned the growing trend of politicians distributing Teachers Service Commission (TSC) employment letters during public events like rallies and funerals.
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“A Recipe for Destroying the Nation”
In a statement on Tuesday, April 22, Kuria did not hold back in expressing his disapproval:
“There are several great ideas on how best to destroy a nation. But the most glittering of recent times is politicians parading teachers’ employment forms in public rallies and funerals. It’s so sad, especially for us, the products of great teachers. We have sunk this low, sadly.”
KNUT Also Raises the Red Flag
Kuria’s sentiments come shortly after the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) also criticized the politicization of the teacher recruitment process. KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu said the TSC had “abdicated its mandate.”
“The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is an independent commission by law and has the mandate to recruit teachers for the teaching service,” Oyuu stated during a press briefing on April 19.
He went on to say: “We cannot object to the executive powers of the president to employ teachers. But the manner in which these letters are distributed by some politicians leaves a lot to be desired.”
TSC Urged to Maintain Professional Standards
Oyuu called on the commission to uphold professionalism and avoid delegating its key responsibilities to political actors. He insisted that while President Ruto’s government may assist in teacher employment, the process must be transparent and fair.
Growing Concern Over Politicization of Public Service
President William Ruto’s allies have been spotted on several occasions handing out TSC job offer letters to their constituents in events meant for development or condolence. This trend has alarmed education stakeholders who view it as a threat to merit-based recruitment.
Both KNUT and Kuria’s sentiments have reignited the conversation about TSC’s independence and the need to safeguard institutions from political interference.
