TSC Secretary/CEO Job Vacancy 2026: Salary, Requirements and How to Apply
The Teachers Service Commission has reopened applications for the position of Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, under vacancy number TSC/CS/001/2026. The advert was issued on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, and applications close on Friday, October 30, 2026, at 5:00 pm East African Time.
The job carries a gross monthly salary of Ksh698,600, a five-year renewable term, and a benefits package that includes a mortgage of up to Ksh30 million and a car loan of up to Ksh6 million. The Commission is an equal opportunity employer, and any Kenyan who meets the stated qualifications can apply.
Why TSC Is Recruiting Again
This is not the Commission’s first attempt to fill the seat. TSC had already advertised the position in May 2025, following the retirement of long-serving CEO Dr Nancy Macharia. That process, however, was thrown out by the High Court.
Justice Francis Nyungu found that the May 6, 2025 advertisement had given applicants only 13 days to apply instead of the 14-day minimum required under TSC’s own Human Resource Policies and Procedures Manual, and that the Commission had not disclosed the proposed remuneration as required.
The judge noted that TSC had not adequately explained why it shortened the application window, and that doing so risked locking out qualified Kenyans, including serving teachers, from competing fairly.
The case had been brought by Simon Kariu Kimaita, who also challenged the CEO qualifications and recruitment process. The court upheld the requirement for an education degree and at least ten years of relevant experience, while dismissing claims of improper gazettement, bias and age discrimination for lack of evidence. Nyungu then directed TSC to re-advertise the post without undue delay and run a fresh, fully compliant process — which is the recruitment now underway.
For applicants, this history matters: it explains why the deadline this time is a full month rather than two weeks, and why the advert spells out the salary and benefits in unusual detail.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vacancy number | TSC/CS/001/2026 |
| Position | Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, TSC |
| Term | 5 years, renewable once |
| Gross monthly salary | Ksh698,600 |
| Application opened | September 29, 2026 |
| Application deadline | October 30, 2026, 5:00 pm EAT |
| Acting CEO | Eveleen (Evaleen) Mitei, since June 2025 |
| Predecessor | Dr Nancy Macharia (retired June 30, 2025, after 38 years at TSC, 10 as CEO) |
| Legal basis | Article 237(1) and Article 250(12) of the Constitution; Section 16(1), TSC Act Cap 212 |
Read Also: TSC JSS Deployment: 866 Teachers to Report October 1, 2026
What the Job Involves
The Secretary is the head of the TSC secretariat, the Commission’s accounting officer, and custodian of its records. Under Article 250(12) of the Constitution and Section 16(1) of the TSC Act, the Secretary is the Chief Executive Officer responsible for implementing the Commission’s policies, decisions and strategies.
Day-to-day, the role covers:
- Executing decisions made by the Commission
- Assigning duties to and supervising TSC staff
- Coordinating implementation of the Commission’s mandate, including registration, recruitment, deployment, promotion, transfer and discipline of teachers
- Overseeing compliance with public ethics and values, and implementation of Part IV of the TSC Act
- Any other duties assigned by the Commission under the law
Who Can Apply: Eligibility Requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | Must be a Kenyan citizen |
| Academic qualification | A degree in education from a university recognised in Kenya |
| Experience | At least 10 years in education, administration and management, public administration, human resource management or financial management |
| Integrity | Must satisfy Chapter Six of the Constitution (leadership and integrity requirements) |
If you are wondering why the requirement is specifically an education degree rather than any bachelor’s degree, this is the same qualification bar the courts have already tested and upheld in the Kimaita case above — so it is unlikely to change in future TSC CEO adverts.
Chapter Six Clearance Certificates
Chapter Six of the Constitution sets out integrity standards for anyone holding public office. To prove compliance, applicants must attach current clearance certificates from:
- Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) — tax compliance
- Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) — loan repayment status
- Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) — no pending integrity cases
- Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) — certificate of good conduct
- A recognised Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) — credit status
Applicants should apply for these certificates early, since KRA, HELB and DCI clearance letters in particular can take one to two weeks to process in Nairobi.
Read Also: KUPPET Alleges Political Interference in TSC Promotions: What Teachers Should Know
Salary, Allowances and Benefits
Beyond the Ksh698,600 gross monthly salary, the Secretary/CEO is entitled to an airtime allowance of Ksh15,000 a month and an annual leave allowance of Ksh50,000, plus an official vehicle with an engine capacity not exceeding 3,000cc.
The officer, one spouse and up to four dependent children under 25 qualify for annual medical cover, comprising inpatient cover of Ksh10 million, outpatient cover of Ksh300,000, maternity cover of Ksh150,000, dental cover of Ksh75,000 and optical cover of Ksh75,000.
A service gratuity is paid at 31 percent of annual pensionable emoluments for the term served, alongside group life insurance and group personal accident cover, each equivalent to three times annual pensionable emoluments.
TSC will also provide a car loan of up to Ksh6 million and a mortgage of up to Ksh30 million, both at an interest rate of 3 percent per annum, with the mortgage repayable over a maximum of 20 years and the car loan over five years. Both schemes are administered centrally by the National Treasury, subject to availability of funds. Security is provided as advised by the Inspector-General of Police and cannot be converted into cash, while a daily subsistence allowance for local and foreign travel applies at rates set by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.
| Benefit | Amount / Terms |
|---|---|
| Gross salary | Ksh698,600 per month |
| Airtime allowance | Ksh15,000 per month |
| Leave allowance | Ksh50,000 per year |
| Mortgage | Up to Ksh30 million, 3% p.a., max 20 years |
| Car loan | Up to Ksh6 million, 3% p.a., max 5 years |
| Medical cover (inpatient) | Ksh10 million |
| Medical cover (outpatient) | Ksh300,000 |
| Maternity cover | Ksh150,000 |
| Dental / optical | Ksh75,000 each |
| Gratuity | 31% of annual pensionable pay per term served |
| Group life / accident cover | 3x annual pensionable emoluments each |
| Official vehicle | Not exceeding 3,000cc |
Read Also: Taita Taveta Teachers’ Hardship Allowance: Teachers Await Ruto’s Follow-Up
How to Apply
Applications can be submitted through any one of three channels:
- Online — via the TSC recruitment portal at recruitment.tsc.go.ke
- Email — as a PDF to chairperson2026@tsc.go.ke
- Hand delivery — a sealed envelope marked “Application for the post of Secretary/Chief Executive Officer” delivered during official working hours to the office of the Commission Chairman, TSC House, 3rd Floor, Tower Wing, Kilimanjaro Road, Upper Hill, Nairobi.
Every application, regardless of channel, must include:
- The completed TSC application form (downloadable from the TSC website or the portal)
- A detailed curriculum vitae
- Certified copies of a national ID or passport
- Certified academic and professional certificates and testimonials
- The five Chapter Six clearance certificates listed above
TSC has warned that submitting false information is an offence, and that all documents will be verified with the issuing bodies. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews, and any form of canvassing leads to automatic disqualification.
What Happens After October 30
TSC has said the names of all applicants, and later the interview schedule for shortlisted candidates, will be published in the print media and on the Commission’s website once the application window closes and shortlisting is complete.
Based on how TSC has run comparable senior recruitments in the past, expect the shortlisting and gazettement of names to take several weeks after the deadline, with interviews typically following within one to two months. Given that this process has already been restarted once by court order, TSC has strong incentive to keep strictly to its own procedural timelines this time.
A Brief History of the Position
The TSC Secretary/CEO office dates back to the Commission’s founding. Recorded holders include Jesse Muhoro (1967–1974), James Kamunge (1974–1977), Duncan Mwangi (1978–1980), Joseph Lijembe (1980–1982), Jackson Kang’ali (1982–1998), Benjamin Sogomo (1998–2003) and James Ongwae (2003–2004). Gabriel Lengoiboni then held the post for 11 years, moving into the role from his position as Senior Deputy Director of Education at the Ministry of Education.
Nancy Macharia succeeded Lengoiboni in June 2015, after a competitive process that drew 69 applicants, of whom four were shortlisted. She became the first woman to lead TSC since its establishment, serving through a decade that included the controversial 2017 teacher delocalisation policy. Her contract was extended in 2020, and she retired at the end of June 2025 after 38 years in the teaching service, ten of them as CEO.
Eveleen Mitei, previously Director of Teacher Discipline Management, has served as acting Secretary/CEO since June 2025 while the substantive recruitment was contested and restarted. Whether she applies for the substantive post is not publicly known at the time of writing.
Read Also: KJSEA Grading System 2026: Papers, Points and How Placement Works
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a new job opening, or the same one advertised in 2025?
It is a fresh advertisement for the same position, ordered by the High Court after the 2025 process was found to be procedurally flawed. Anyone can apply, whether or not they applied in 2025.
Can a serving teacher apply?
Yes, provided they hold a recognised education degree, have at least ten years of qualifying experience, and can meet the Chapter Six clearance requirements. The 2025 court case specifically flagged the risk of the process disadvantaging serving teachers, so TSC is likely to be attentive to this.
Do I need all five clearance certificates before I apply, or can I submit them later?
The advert requires them to be submitted with the application, so applicants should obtain KRA, HELB, EACC, DCI and CRB clearances in advance rather than waiting until close to the deadline.
What happens if I miss the October 30 deadline?
TSC has not indicated any extension. Given that the previous advert was invalidated partly over an inadequate application window, a further extension before the closing date is possible but should not be assumed.
Where can I check if I’ve been shortlisted?
TSC has said it will publish the list of applicants and later the interview schedule for shortlisted candidates in the print media and on its official website.
TSC Secretary/CEO Job Vacancy 2026: Salary, Requirements and How to Apply.
Follow Teachers Updates on Facebook, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), WhatsApp, Telegram, and Instagram. Get in touch with our editors at hello@teachersupdates.news.
