Kuppet Criticises Parliament for Rejecting Promotion of 25,000 Teachers, Says TSC Independence at Risk
Officials from the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), Vihiga branch, have strongly opposed the National Assembly Education Committee’s move to nullify the promotion of over 25,000 teachers, accusing Parliament of exceeding its jurisdiction and infringing on the autonomy of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Led by Branch Secretary General Sabala Inyeni, the officials termed the decision unlawful and harmful to the morale and career advancement of educators. Inyeni asserted that Members of Parliament lacked both the authority and professional competence to determine eligibility for teacher promotions.
The promotions, impacting 25,252 teachers nationwide, were rolled out by the TSC and submitted for review by the National Assembly Education Committee. This triggered debate within Parliament, with legislators questioning the selection criteria and regional distribution of promoted teachers.
Last week, the Committee, chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Meli, raised concerns about what they perceived as bias, favouritism, and the elevation of underqualified individuals. They also criticized the seemingly uniform distribution of promotion slots, suggesting the process ignored demographic and historical imbalances.
In response to the backlash, TSC CEO Nancy Macharia defended the promotion process, stating it was anchored in legal and professional frameworks, including Regulation 73 of the Code of Regulations for Teachers, the Career Progression Guidelines, and the Policy on Selection and Appointment of Institutional Administrators.
Meanwhile, KUPPET Vihiga officials alleged that certain MPs were exploiting the teacher recruitment and promotion process for political leverage, particularly ahead of future electoral campaigns. Inyeni claimed that some legislators had been distributing employment letters from the TSC within their constituencies, thus politicizing a process that should remain professional and impartial.
KUPPET Urges Focus on Funding, Not Control
The union has urged the National Assembly to channel its energy toward increasing budgetary support for the education sector, particularly for the TSC. Inyeni said Parliament should facilitate promotions for more teachers, including those who were interviewed but left out.
KUPPET officials warned that persistent political meddling in hiring and promotion risks reversing progress achieved in Kenya’s education sector. They further threatened to mobilize against MPs involved in what they called irregular and illegal practices.
Read Also: KNUT Questions TSC Teacher Recruitment Process as State House Influence Surfaces
Despite the Vihiga branch’s strong opposition, KUPPET National Chairman and Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba expressed support for the Education Committee’s stance.
He stated that Parliament had been petitioned to halt the promotions due to what he described as an inequitable allocation method. Milemba called for an investigation into how the TSC used funds allocated by Parliament, stressing the need for fair resource distribution.
Kuppet Criticises Parliament for Rejecting Promotion of 25,000 Teachers, Says TSC Independence at Risk
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