TSC warns politicians against interfering in teacher transfers
By People Daily Digital Reporter, June 26, 2026Teachers Service Commission (TSC) acting Chief Executive Officer Evaleen Mitei has warned politicians against interfering in teacher transfers, insisting that the constitutional mandate rests solely with the commission.
Speaking during the 49th Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) annual conference in Mombasa on Thursday, June 24, 2026, Mitei said teacher transfers must be carried out in accordance with the law and existing regulations, free from external influence.
“We do not need interference from anyone. Any transfer is a mandate of TSC and not any other person,” she said.
Mitei urged the National Assembly’s Education Committee to safeguard teachers from victimisation, noting that while the commission is open to receiving transfer requests, all decisions must be guided by the law and established regulations.
Unlawful transfer of teachers
Her remarks come amid growing calls by some politicians for the transfer of teachers from specific schools, a move the commission has described as unlawful. The TSC chief also announced that the commission will begin implementing the second phase of the teachers’ Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) next month.
At the same time, she called on teachers to provide accurate information during an upcoming job evaluation exercise by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), saying the process will help determine the true scope of teachers’ responsibilities.
“As principals, tell SRC what you do. Don’t tell them you are doing nothing. Once we submit the job descriptions to SRC, they will soon start evaluating teachers,” Mitei said.
She reaffirmed TSC’s support for ongoing education reforms, including the review of teacher registration procedures, and said the commission remains committed to ending long-standing teacher shortages despite budgetary constraints.
“We have a rapidly changing education landscape, and we should be ready to handle it. We have resource constraints, but we have all of you to manage with whatever is available,” she said.
Mitei further appealed to Parliament to increase funding for the education sector to enable schools and education agencies to meet growing demands effectively.
Review of secondary school fees
Meanwhile, the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has backed proposals to review the secondary school fees structure, arguing that the rates set in 2015 are no longer sustainable under current economic conditions.
KUPPET Secretary-General Akello Misori said revising school fees would help institutions cope with rising operational costs while contributing to stability in schools.
“Unfortunately, schools are still being run using the 2015 fees structure, yet the economy has changed. We support the plan to review the fee structure in accordance with economic times,” Misori said.
The union also urged TSC to fast-track the implementation of career progression guidelines and encouraged teachers to submit the necessary documents to facilitate promotions.
On school safety, Misori called for a collaborative approach involving all stakeholders to address the growing concern over unrest in learning institutions.
“We need the ministry to take everyone on board so that we can have renewed commitment to ensure our schools are safe for learners,” he said.