KNUT Demands Merit-Based Teacher Recruitment, Asks TSC to Uphold Integrity.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General, Collins Oyuu, has urged the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to uphold its constitutional mandate, independence, and integrity in the recruitment of teachers for public institutions. He cautioned that political interference had compromised the fairness of the recent hiring process, which he believed should be strictly under the TSC’s control.
During a church service at Chepkogonyo Deliverance Church in Bomet County, Oyuu raised concerns about the conduct of the latest teacher recruitment exercise. He attributed its irregularities to political involvement, stating that the process had been hijacked by politicians eager to gain political mileage.
According to him, politicians in various regions were seen handing out TSC employment letters at political rallies and funerals, disregarding the standard recruitment procedures. He emphasized that these actions threatened the dignity of the teaching profession and deviated from established norms.
Oyuu expressed the union’s disappointment, saying KNUT had received numerous complaints from young, unemployed graduate teachers who felt discriminated against. He claimed that the politicians distributing appointment letters prioritized their supporters rather than observing merit or graduation year, which led to deep frustration among deserving candidates.
He also alleged that some individuals were forced to sell personal property to purchase teacher recruitment forms that were supposedly being sold illegally. He described the reports of families selling land to afford the forms as deeply troubling and unacceptable.
Demand for Adherence to Merit-Based Criteria
The union leader highlighted that KNUT had collected sufficient evidence pointing to irregularities in the recruitment process and was prepared to present this information to the TSC if required. He called on the commission to restore transparency and ensure that proper procedures—such as considering academic qualifications and the year of graduation—are strictly followed.
Oyuu insisted that recruitment must be grounded in merit and fairness, urging the TSC to resist external influence and maintain professional standards in the hiring process.
His remarks come at a time when TSC has announced plans to recruit 20,000 teachers by July in a move aimed at addressing the shortage of educators nationwide. However, Oyuu warned that without transparency, the recruitment drive would fail to achieve its intended goals.
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He challenged the TSC to demonstrate accountability in the upcoming exercise by distancing itself from politicians who are not authorized recruitment agents. He stressed the need for the commission to rebuild public trust and assure the teaching community of its impartiality.
The concerns raised by Oyuu have triggered public attention and scrutiny ahead of the upcoming TSC recruitment. The involvement of unauthorized individuals in the process has raised alarm, and the union remains steadfast in its call for a fair, credible, and transparent hiring process.
KNUT Demands Merit-Based Teacher Recruitment, Asks TSC to Uphold Integrity
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