Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo has called for investigations into allegations that political leaders are interfering with the recruitment of teachers by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Odhiambo made the remarks on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, after National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula claimed that some Members of Parliament are taken to State House, where President William Ruto gives them batches of TSC employment letters to distribute in their constituencies.
According to Wetang’ula, each MP may receive up to 10 appointment letters, with some legislators allegedly selling the employment opportunities to job seekers instead of giving them to deserving applicants.
The Speaker claimed that some of the slots have been sold for as much as KSh400,000, raising concerns over possible political interference in the recruitment of teachers.
Reacting to the remarks, Odhiambo described the allegations as a serious constitutional matter, arguing that teacher recruitment should be conducted independently by the TSC.
“This is not a joke. This is not politics as usual. This is a constitutional violation,” Odhiambo said in a post on X.
She cited Article 237 of the Constitution, which establishes the TSC and gives it the mandate to register, recruit and employ registered teachers, among other functions.
Odhiambo argued that political involvement in the process undermines the independence of the constitutional commission and disadvantages qualified teachers who have followed the official recruitment process.
“Qualified graduates are losing out. Young teachers who have waited years, interned, sat exams, and played by the rules are being pushed aside,” she said.
The former LSK president also pointed to the country’s persistent teacher shortage, noting that thousands of trained teachers remain unemployed despite schools facing staffing gaps.
“TSC data shows a national teacher deficit of about 96,000–116,000 posts, with Junior Secondary Schools alone short by at least 72,000 teachers,” Odhiambo stated.
She further claimed that more than 300,000 trained teachers remain registered but unemployed, questioning why recruitment opportunities would allegedly be distributed through political channels when the country has a large pool of qualified teachers.
Odhiambo called for investigations into the allegations and accountability for any officials found to have interfered with the recruitment process.
“This demands investigation. It demands accountability,” she said, warning that failure to address the claims would undermine public confidence in constitutional institutions.
The allegations have renewed debate over the independence of the TSC and the need for transparent, merit-based recruitment of teachers across the country.
