The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has dismissed claims that President William Ruto issues employment letters to teachers recruited through Members of Parliament.
In a circular dated Thursday, August 27, 2026, the Commission said it had noted remarks by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula suggesting that the President issues employment letters to MPs for the recruitment of teachers.
“The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has taken note of the statement made by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Moses Wetang’ula, suggesting that the President issues employment letters to Members of Parliament for the recruitment of teachers,” part of the notice read.
TSC Responds to Wetang’ula Remarks on Teacher Recruitment
TSC said the statement was not true and was misleading, maintaining that the recruitment and employment of registered teachers, including the issuance of employment letters, is its constitutional mandate.
The Commission cited Article 237(2)(b) of the Constitution, which provides that TSC shall recruit and employ registered teachers.
It also cited Regulations 55 and 56 of the TSC Code of Regulations for Teachers, 2015, which provide for teacher recruitment and the Commission’s issuance of offers of employment.
TSC said the Commission issues all employment letters in accordance with the law and applicable recruitment guidelines.
The Commission further clarified that neither the President nor Members of Parliament have the mandate to issue TSC employment letters.
TSC said it remains committed to transparency, fairness and integrity in the recruitment and employment of teachers.
What Wetangula Said
Wetang’ula said on August 23 that some MPs receive as many as 10 TSC employment letters for teachers from their constituencies.
He, however, raised concern over allegations that some politicians sell the employment opportunities to desperate jobseekers.
“There are some MPs who are given as many as 10 teachers’ employment letters. Yet, you later hear that they have been selling those letters,” Wetang’ula said.
He cited the case of a parent who was allegedly asked to pay KSh400,000 to secure a teaching job for her child, describing the practice as immoral.
“If someone is struggling, for instance, if you are a night nurse, as that mother said, and you are asked to pay KSh400,000 to secure a teacher’s employment letter for your child, where will you get that kind of money? That is immoral, and we cannot accept such leadership,” he said.
The remarks have since drawn criticism from teachers’ unions, with the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) raising concerns that the claims point to political interference in teacher recruitment.
Kuppet Deputy Secretary-General Moses Nthurima said the alleged distribution of TSC appointment letters through politicians would undermine the Commission’s independence and disadvantage qualified teachers who follow the established recruitment process.
Nthurima noted that Wetang’ula, as a lawyer, understands the constitutional status and independence of the Commission. He questioned the decision to give MPs employment letters to distribute to their preferred candidates, relatives or cronies.
He said TSC recruitment should consider factors such as candidates’ graduation dates and interview performance, with those who graduated earlier and performed better expected to have an advantage.
Nthurima questioned what would happen to teachers who followed the formal recruitment process if appointment letters were instead handed to politicians to distribute to their preferred candidates.
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