Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has renewed calls for the immediate confirmation of all 44,000 Junior Secondary School (JSS) intern teachers into permanent and pensionable employment, saying the government should prioritize investment in education.

In a statement shared on X on June 4, 2026, Nyoro urged the government to act without delay to address the concerns of thousands of teachers serving under internship terms.

“The confirmation of all our 44,000 brothers and sisters serving as interns in the JSS must be done without delay. We must prioritise education as a nation,” he said.

The remarks come amid ongoing discussions over the employment status of JSS teachers and concerns raised by education stakeholders regarding staffing levels in schools implementing the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

Calls for permanent employment

Nyoro has consistently advocated for the absorption of JSS intern teachers into permanent and pensionable terms. In December 2025, he questioned delays in implementing earlier commitments to employ the teachers permanently.

Speaking during a church service in Kiharu at the time, the legislator raised concerns over proposals to extend internship contracts and called for the reallocation of resources to facilitate teacher employment.

He cited Article 223 of the Constitution as one of the mechanisms that could be used to facilitate urgent expenditure before parliamentary approval.

The MP also highlighted the financial challenges faced by intern teachers, noting that many continue to work under temporary arrangements while carrying out teaching responsibilities in junior secondary schools across the country.

Teacher unions raise concerns

The issue gained further attention in April 2026 when the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) issued a nationwide strike notice over the employment status of JSS intern teachers.

Union officials from several counties, including Machakos, Tharaka Nithi and West Pokot, called on the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to convert internship contracts into permanent and pensionable positions.

The demands followed a High Court ruling that declared the internship arrangements unlawful. Union leaders also called for improved medical cover and greater administrative independence for junior secondary schools.

KUPPET officials argued that intern teachers were performing the same duties as their permanently employed counterparts and should receive similar employment benefits.

Pressure mounts on government

The rollout of junior secondary education under CBC has increased demand for teachers, with intern educators playing a key role in classroom instruction across the country.

While the government has announced plans to absorb a section of the intern teachers, education stakeholders have continued to push for the confirmation of all those currently serving under internship arrangements.

Nyoro said a stable teaching workforce is essential to the success of education reforms and the effective implementation of CBC.

The government and the Teachers Service Commission continue to face calls from lawmakers, unions and teachers to provide a long-term solution to the employment concerns affecting JSS interns as schools prepare for future academic transitions.