Kenya’s education system is facing a growing crisis as the teacher shortage hits 98,261, with the number expected to rise sharply by 2026 due to the rollout of Senior Secondary School under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC), Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Chief Executive Officer Dr. Nancy Macharia warned that the gap in teacher staffing, coupled with limited funding, could severely affect the delivery of quality education.
“Our current annual allocation of Ksh1 billion for teacher promotions can only benefit about 6,000 teachers out of a workforce of more than 500,000. This is discouraging many eligible teachers and is affecting service delivery in schools,” Dr. Macharia told MPs during the session chaired by Runyenjes MP Eric Karemba.
She added that the shortage includes a large number of teachers required for Junior Secondary Schools (JSS), and will worsen with the expected launch of Senior Secondary Schools in 2026 unless urgent steps are taken.
MPs also raised concerns about the fairness in teacher deployment. Tongaren MP John Chikati questioned why counties such as Kakamega continue to receive fewer teachers than others.
“This Committee needs to know why some regions are left behind in teacher allocations. We must ensure all learners across the country are treated fairly,” he said.
Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru Majjadonk urged TSC to prioritize the employment of teachers who have remained jobless for years despite holding registration numbers.
“Why is it that some teachers who graduated ten years ago are still unemployed, while fresh graduates are getting hired? This creates a lack of confidence in the system,” Majjadonk said.
In her response, Dr. Macharia explained that staffing is guided by legal frameworks, including the Curriculum-Based Establishment (CBE) and national staffing norms.
“We deploy teachers based on curriculum needs and have field officers to ensure the policies are implemented fairly and efficiently,” she said.
Dr. Macharia also highlighted other challenges facing the commission, including the establishment of new public schools without matching staff budgets, a shortage of CBC-trained teachers, rising demands in hardship areas, and sometimes resistance from local communities.
She appealed to the Committee to push for increased funding to support teacher recruitment and promotions, warning that failure to act could undermine children’s right to education as guaranteed in Article 43 of the Constitution.
“Young learners across Kenya deserve quality education. Without enough teachers, this right is at risk,” she said.
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