Nancy Macharia to Retire as TSC CEO After a Decade of Service.
Nancy Macharia, the CEO of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), has announced her retirement, set for early next year, concluding her ten-year term.
Appointed in June 2015 and reappointed in 2020, she made the announcement during the Kenya National Union of Teachers’ (Knut) annual general meeting in Mombasa.
Reflecting on her tenure, she expressed gratitude to Knut for their professionalism and support over the years.
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She acknowledged the partnership with Knut and shared her satisfaction with their collaborative efforts to enhance the teaching profession.
Key Achievements During Her Leadership
Under Macharia’s leadership, the TSC achieved several milestones, including:
| Achievement | Details |
|---|---|
| Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) | Signed two CBAs: 2017–2021 (Sh54 billion) and 2021–2025 (Sh18 billion). |
| Health Insurance for Teachers | Introduced comprehensive health insurance, though not without challenges. |
| Performance Management (TPAD) | Institutionalized the Teacher Performance Appraisal and Development system. |
The TSC has also started processing 5,690 promotion applications and plans to advertise 19,000 new vacancies soon.
Disputes and Challenges with Knut and Kuppet
Macharia’s tenure witnessed significant disputes with unions, particularly Knut. The most contentious issues included:
- Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC): Differences with former Knut leader Wilson Sossion over teachers’ involvement in CBC implementation.
- Career Progression Guidelines (CPGs): A court ruling supported Knut’s preference for the Teachers’ Code of Regulations over CPGs. However, the aftermath saw Knut weakened as the TSC stopped remitting union dues for members and only promoted non-members.
- Union Relations: Sossion’s eventual resignation marked the end of a confrontational era for Knut, with successor Collins Oyuu maintaining a cooperative stance.
Despite these disputes, Macharia revealed that TSC and Knut held more than ten formal consultations this year, excluding informal meetings. She appreciated Knut’s sponsorship of some retreats held during these engagements.
Meanwhile, relations with the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) remain strained. Like Knut, Kuppet faced challenges after the TSC refused to remit union dues following a national strike in August, leading to court action.
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Despite the challenges, Macharia’s leadership introduced critical reforms in the teaching profession. Her efforts to institutionalize collective bargaining and performance management have left a lasting impact.
As she prepares to exit, Macharia emphasized the importance of continued collaboration between unions and the TSC. The commission now awaits Knut’s memorandum to begin discussions for the 2025–2029 CBA cycle.
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