RE: The Plight of Unemployed Teachers – A Call for Justice and Transparency

Dear Mr. President, CS Education, and TSC Leadership,
We, the thousands of unemployed teachers across the country, write this letter with heavy hearts. Our hopes and dreams of serving the nation in classrooms have been reduced to frustration, desperation, and exploitation. For years, we have pursued education, completed training, and acquired the necessary qualifications to teach. Yet, the hiring process has become a game of politics, bribery, and injustice.
It is unacceptable that in a country where quality education is vital, teacher employment has turned into a corrupt scheme. The recent revelation from Murang’a County, where a Woman Representative admitted to receiving over 200 employment forms from State House Kenya , is just the tip of the iceberg. Across the country, unemployed teachers are being asked to pay bribes ranging from Ksh 350,000 to Ksh 400,000 for TSC appointment letters. Many of us have been scammed, robbed of our hard-earned money by individuals who exploit our desperation.
We refuse to be silent while this rot continues. Teaching is a noble profession, not a privilege for the few who can afford bribes. We call upon the government and TSC to:

End Nepotism and Corruption – Teacher employment should be based on merit, not on political connections or bribery. Investigate and hold accountable those involved in these corrupt practices.

Transparent Hiring Process – Let all unemployed teachers have equal access to available vacancies through a fair, open, and accountable process.

Urgent Mass Recruitment – Thousands of trained teachers remain jobless while schools struggle with understaffing. The government must allocate sufficient resources to employ all qualified teachers.

Protection from Exploitation – Unemployed teachers should not be forced into financial desperation, paying for jobs that are rightfully theirs.

Affirmative Action for Marginalized Regions – There is a historical backlog of unemployed teachers in regions such as Nyanza, Western, Ukambani, parts of Rift Valley, and Meru. The government must implement targeted recruitment to clear this backlog and ensure fairness in employment distribution.

Respect for TSC’s Independence – The mandate to recruit teachers lies solely with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), not the President, politicians, or other government offices. Political interference in teacher employment undermines fairness and professionalism. The independence of TSC must be upheld to prevent the hiring of teachers from being turned into a political reward scheme.

We are taking to the streets on 15th April in all TSC Sub county offices not just to demand employment but to protect the dignity of our profession and the future of our children. If nothing is done, generations will suffer under a failing system that rewards corruption instead of hard work.
To our fellow unemployed teachers, let us unite. Let’s form groups, plan our actions, engage with the media, and make our voices heard. This is not just about jobs, it is about justice, fairness, and the future of education in Kenya.
Enough is enough! Share widely, ifikie President, TSC and politicians.