The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is facing strong criticism after it emerged that only five tribes dominate the hiring of teachers in junior secondary schools. This has raised serious questions about fairness in the recruitment process and has triggered national debate about equal representation in the education sector.
A report by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) revealed that most teaching slots were given to people from just a few ethnic groups. This means that many qualified candidates from marginalized communities were left out.
The report has caused an uproar, with education stakeholders, civil society groups, and political leaders accusing the TSC of promoting tribal favoritism.Critics say that giving jobs to people from only a few tribes goes against the spirit of unity and equal opportunity that the country stands for.
They believe this kind of favoritism could lead to division and resentment, especially among communities that feel left behind. Some education experts have even warned that this trend might discourage brilliant young graduates from pursuing careers in teaching if they feel their chances are blocked by tribal bias.
Many are now calling on the TSC to urgently fix its recruitment process. Civil society groups are asking for the whole system to be reviewed and adjusted to reflect the face of Kenya.
They want a hiring process that gives all communities a fair chance, regardless of their tribe or background.In response to the backlash, TSC officials have said they are looking into the matter.
They insist that the commission is committed to ensuring fair representation from all parts of the country. However, their promise has not been enough to calm the public. Pressure is growing, and many Kenyans are now demanding an independent audit of TSC’s recruitment practices to expose any wrongdoing.
This issue has come up at a very sensitive time, as the government continues to implement the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in junior secondary schools. The success of this new system depends heavily on qualified and well-distributed teachers. If only a few communities are given the chance to work, then the CBC may fail to serve all Kenyan children equally.