Nearly 2,000 Teachers’ Promotions Revoked, No Explanations Given
Over 1,800 teachers in Kenya’s dry and semi-arid regions have been given a blow after the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) unexpectedly rescinded their promotions just months after they were awarded.
The TSC’s decision has sparked widespread criticism, with impacted instructors claiming that their demotions were the consequence of external interference.
However, the Commission has failed to release an official letter or explain why the revocations occurred, leaving thousands in limbo and fueling speculation.
Some of the impacted teachers spoke to the press about their displeasure, describing how they had been stagnant in the same job group for more than ten years.
Others noted continued anxiety, noting that they remained in acting roles after passing tough interviews, with no promises of job security or equitable advancement.
“We were told there were some regions that complained that we were given more slots,” one distressed teacher recounted.
Nearly 2,000 teachers in Kenya’s arid regions have had their hard-earned promotions revoked by the TSC—sparking outrage and deepening the education crisis. Why were they demoted, and what happens next? #NTVatONE @elijah_ouko pic.twitter.com/exnynjHSse
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) June 28, 2025
“I can say that was just a political philosophy pursued by some politicians to deny us our chances.”
“I was given that position (acting Principal) in 2021, and from that time, I have been in the same acting capacity. We are just waiting to be promoted and confirmed,” another teacher lamented.
The instructors claimed that the demotions had left them demoralised, citing the constraints of working in difficult places where insecurity and a lack of resources are the norms.
In January of this year, the TSC promoted almost 25,000 teachers, including 1,864.
As a result, the instructors urged Parliament, the Ministry of Education, and the TSC to reconsider the decision for the sake of students in marginalized areas.
The subject of teacher promotion has recently emerged as a heated topic throughout the country.
The outgoing TSC Chair Nancy Macharia was at pains to explain the criteria used in the promotion of the tens of thousands of teachers.
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In May, the National Assembly gave the TSC a seven-day deadline to explain the promotions, after MPs sought to know why most teachers had been stuck in the same job grade for years with no clear career path.
Furthermore, senators questioned why most locations received nearly identical numbers of promotions despite differing teacher performance and staffing requirements.
The National Assembly Committee on Education also accused the Commission of unfair tactics and a disregard for equitable standards.
Aside from the MPs, the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) had criticized the TSC promotions, warning of industrial action and threatening legal action against the organization.
Nearly 2,000 Teachers’ Promotions Revoked, No Explanations Given
