According to data presented by Acting TSC Chief Executive Officer Eveleen Mitei (pictured), the oldest unemployed teacher on the Commission’s register is 59 years old, born in 1966. Two others are aged 58 (born in 1967), and another is 55 (born in 1969). [Photo: Courtesy]
By The Weekly Vision Reporter
Shocking revelations have emerged indicating that over 39,000 registered teachers aged 45 and above remain unemployed in Kenya, with some nearing retirement age. The data, tabled before Parliament by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), has sparked outrage among lawmakers and ignited a renewed push for reforms in teacher recruitment.
According to figures presented by Acting TSC Chief Executive Officer Eveleen Mitei, the oldest unemployed teacher on the commission’s register is 59 years old, born in 1966. Two others are aged 58, born in 1967, and another is 55, born in 1969. A majority of those still without employment were born between 1970 and 1978, despite being professionally qualified and registered with the TSC.
“As at June 2025, there are 39,017 registered teachers who are 45 years and above but are not employed by the Commission,” Ms Mitei told MPs sitting on the National Assembly’s Education Committee.
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However, only 2,837 teachers among the 39,017 disclosed their counties and sub-counties, making it difficult for the commission to establish the full geographic distribution of the affected group. From the partial data provided, 56 teachers were from Uasin Gishu County, four from Kitale, 10 from Homa Bay, seven from Nandi, and eight from Migori.
Ms Mitei clarified that the classification of these individuals as “unemployed” does not necessarily mean they are actively seeking employment within the public sector. Some, she said, may have transitioned into other careers or are currently teaching in private institutions.
The TSC, she explained, has undertaken measures to prioritise older teachers in its recruitment framework. In the 2024/2025 financial year, the Commission received 1,264 applications from teachers aged 45 and above. From this number, 516 were successfully recruited and posted across the country.
The distribution included: • Nairobi (31) • Bungoma (25) • Kajiado (24) • Elgeyo Marakwet (22) • Machakos (27) • Makueni (20) • Murang’a (24) • Busia (22) • Uasin Gishu (13) • Other counties, such as Bomet, Garissa, Homa Bay, and Taita Taveta, received fewer placements. Ms Mitei noted that the TSC had revised its recruitment criteria to reward applicants based on age and the year of graduation. “Teachers who graduated earlier, many of whom are above 45 years, are awarded additional points in recognition of their long wait and late entry into the profession,” she said.
In instances where candidates score equally during the selection process, age is used as a tiebreaker, with preference given to older applicants. The Commission has also appealed to Parliament for increased budgetary allocations, arguing that the number of teachers recruited each year is contingent on available funding.
Lawmakers were, however, unimpressed, demanding that the Commission take decisive affirmative action to absorb the thousands of unemployed veteran teachers. The Committee, chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly, called for an updated list of counties and sub-counties where the affected teachers reside, and a policy paper detailing how the TSC intends to address the issue within two weeks.
“Please provide the full list of these 39,000 teachers, broken down by region, so that members can scrutinise this data and propose interventions,” Mr Melly urged. Luanda MP Dick Maungu cited an incident involving a 52-year-old teacher who visited his office in tears, pleading for assistance after years of failed job applications. “It is unacceptable that in some areas, teachers who graduated just last year are being employed while those who’ve waited decades continue to suffer,” he said.
Soy MP David Kiplagat, who initially raised the question before the committee, accused the TSC of lacking compassion and called for urgent redress. “Let us have a human heart. These teachers are hopeless, some have aged in waiting. We must ensure that they are not abandoned,” he appealed.
The TSC’s Legal, Labour and Industrial Relations Director, Cavin Anyuor, admitted that the Commission’s data was not comprehensive, attributing the gaps to historical system failures predating the 2010 Constitution. He pledged that the Commission would work to consolidate and verify the data.
As pressure mounts on the Commission, the fate of thousands of jobless teachers, many nearing retirement, hangs in the balance. With MPs now demanding urgent policy interventions and the affected teachers clinging to the hope of formal employment, the coming weeks are expected to be pivotal in shaping how Kenya treats its ageing educators.
The revelations have cast a harsh spotlight on systemic delays in the public service hiring process and the need for age-sensitive recruitment strategies, particularly in sectors where job-seekers are professionally trained yet remain underutilised.
