The Ombudsman has ordered investigations into alleged bias in recruitment of commissioners and top officials at the Teachers Service Commission.

This follows claims by a petitioner that there are massive irregularities and discriminatory hiring of senior managers and commissioners at the Nancy Macharia-led TSC.

In her petition to the Commission on Administrative Justice (Ombudsman) on November 23, Pauline Mumbua claims the appointment of senior managers and commissioners favours one region.

“Whereas the commissioners and senior managers are supposed to reflect the face of Kenya, the current composition gives a different picture,” the petition reads. “When you take a close look at the composition of senior managers and commissioners at the TSC, it is evident that Mount Kenya region is favoured as it has a lion’s share.”

The petition was copied to the Director of Criminal Investigation George Kinoti and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Noordin Haji.

The petition claims of the 11 senior managers at the TSC, five are from Mt Kenya, two from Rift Valley and Nyanza with the rest shared by the other regions. The petition lists Macharia, Rita Wahome (Director Staffing), Reuben Mugwuku (Director Quality Assurance), Charles Gichira (Director ICT) and Isaak Nganga (Director Internal Audit) as from Mt Kenya.