Shocking details have emerged of how 39,017 teachers are still unemployed to date. 

The details from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) tabled before MPs on July 9, 2025, show that the oldest unemployed teacher is a 59-year-old teacher, followed by two 58-year-olds born in 1967 and a 55-year-old. 

The rest of the majority of the unemployed teachers were born between 1970 and 1978. 

Acting TSC Chief Executive Officer Eveleen Mitei told MPs who sit in the National Assembly’s Education Committee that out of the 39,017 registered teachers who are 45 years old, only 2,837 teachers disclosed their counties and sub-counties; 56 are from Uasin Gishu county, 4 from Kitale, 10 from Homa Bay, 7 from Nandi county and eight from Migori. 

She, however, clarified that some of the teachers indicated as ‘Unemployed’ by TSC does not mean that they are available in the job market, as they have pursued different career paths in the various sectors of our economy. 

In her presentation, Mitei further explained that during the financial year 2024/2025, the commission received a total of 1,264 applications from teachers who are above 45 years of age and after shortlisting, they recruited a total of 516 teachers aged between 45 to 59 years distributed across the country. 

Mitei said following the move, the commission has put in place various efforts to implement affirmative action to address the plight of teachers aged above 45 years.

Part of the efforts include the adoption of an open and merit-based recruitment that allows all registered and qualified teachers to apply regardless of age, with applicants earning more points based on their age. 

“Teachers who graduated earlier, many of whom are above 45 years, are awarded additional points in recognition of the length in cases where two or more candidates score equally after all parameters are considered, age is used as a tie-breaker,” she explained.  

On the plans being put in place by the commission to adjust the current recruitment framework, with the aim of discouraging prolonged delays in employment, the commission has not only pleaded for budgetary enhancement but has also come up with a favourable selection criterion to ensure that older teachers are considered. 

Speaking after the presentation, MPs who sit in the committee demanded that TSC come up with an updated list of the exact number of teachers who are 45 years and above and have expressed interest in being employed by the commission. 

The lawmakers also demanded that the commission come up with an affirmative action detailing how the commission will absorb the unemployed teachers on the grounds that a majority of them are suffering.