NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo has condemned the alleged involvement of Members of Parliament in the distribution of Teachers Service Commission (TSC) employment letters, saying the practice would undermine the constitutional independence of the commission.
Odhiambo’s remarks follow comments by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula that have reignited debate over political interference in teacher recruitment and allegations that some MPs demand money from desperate job seekers in exchange for appointment letters.
She argued that the alleged practice violates Article 237 of the Constitution, which establishes the TSC as an independent commission responsible for the recruitment, registration and management of teachers.
“The Speaker of the National Assembly admitted that he takes MPs to State House where the President hands them 10 TSC employment letters each, letters that are then sold for up to Sh400,000 apiece,” Odhiambo said.
Wetang’ula had criticised MPs accused of demanding money from parents and job seekers in exchange for TSC appointment letters. His remarks, however, have attracted scrutiny over how the letters allegedly reach politicians in the first place.
Odhiambo questions TSC independence
Odhiambo said allowing politicians to control or influence the allocation of teacher employment letters would amount to undermining the constitutional safeguards intended to protect public appointments from political patronage.
“When the President, the Speaker, and MPs turn teacher recruitment into a patronage scheme, they are not just bypassing the TSC. They are dismantling one of the key independent institutions designed to protect public service from capture,” she said.
She argued that qualified teachers who have followed the formal recruitment process risk being disadvantaged if political connections become a pathway to securing employment.
“Qualified graduates are losing out. Young teachers who have waited years, interned, sat exams, and played by the rules are being pushed aside so that political favourites can buy their way into classrooms,” she said.
Teacher shortage intensifies concerns
Odhiambo said the alleged politicisation of recruitment was particularly concerning because the country continues to face a significant shortage of teachers while thousands of trained educators remain unemployed.
She cited TSC data indicating a national teacher deficit of between 96,000 and 116,000 posts, with Junior Secondary Schools alone facing a shortage of at least 72,000 teachers.
She also said more than 300,000 trained teachers remain registered but unemployed.
The figures have added urgency to the debate over whether available teaching positions are being allocated through a transparent, merit-based process.
Teachers’ unions have similarly raised concerns over alleged political interference, maintaining that recruitment should be determined by qualifications, teacher shortages and merit rather than political connections.
Calls for investigation
Odhiambo called for investigations into the allegations and accountability for anyone found to have interfered with the constitutional mandate of the TSC.
The controversy follows growing public scrutiny of claims that MPs have received teacher employment letters for distribution to constituents.
Wetang’ula’s remarks have placed renewed attention on the alleged practice, with questions emerging over the role of State House, MPs and the TSC in the distribution of appointment letters.
