A bribery scandal has rocked the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), leaving dozens of trained teachers stranded despite allegedly paying hefty sums of money for jobs they were promised but never received.
At the centre of the allegations is a recruitment cartel said to be operating from the TSC’s headquarters in Upper Hill, Nairobi, with county-level officers acting as facilitators and bribe-collection agents.
The scheme has sparked public outrage and protests in several parts of the country, including Bomet, Nairobi and Machakos counties.
Teachers Service Commission (TSC) headquarters in Upper Hill, Nairobi.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
The scandal came into the open last week after frustrated job seekers staged demonstrations in Konoin Constituency, Bomet County, accusing TSC officers of demanding bribes in exchange for employment.
Some teachers say they sold land, took bank loans or depleted family savings, only to receive appointment letters that were never followed by posting or confirmation letters.
Victims claim that after paying the bribes, they submitted completed employment documents at local TSC offices, but even after three to five months, no confirmation or posting letters had been issued.
Investigations by the Daily Nation indicate that about 20 trained teachers in Bomet County alone paid between Sh200,000 and Sh500,000 each and remain unconfirmed.
Sources familiar with the commission’s operations say the racket is highly organised. County officers allegedly scout for desperate applicants and act as intermediaries, while the actual control of appointment letters and approvals lies at TSC headquarters.
The genuine-looking appointment letters are allegedly released from the headquarters and passed through brokers, politicians or trusted agents, who then sell them to job seekers. Applicants are instructed to submit documents through official TSC channels, giving the process an appearance of legitimacy.
As investigations gathered momentum, two senior TSC officers in Bomet County were transferred. According to transfer letters seen by the Daily Nation, Bomet TSC County Director Dr William Yator was moved to Siaya County, while Konoin Sub-County Director David Kemei was transferred to Migori County.
The Teachers Service Commission Acting CEO Eveleen Mitei.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
Acting TSC Chief Executive Officer Eveleen Mitei said the transfers were intended to facilitate independent and impartial investigations. She confirmed that the commission had constituted an independent investigation committee in line with the Human Resource Manual for Secretariat Staff.
“The commission has constituted an independent investigation committee to conduct impartial investigations and ascertain the veracity of the allegations,” said Ms Mitei. She said more than 15 people had already been interviewed and that the probe was expected to be concluded within seven days, after which a report would guide further action.
Ms Mitei assured the public that stern disciplinary action would be taken against any officers found culpable.
Separately, the Ministry of Education acknowledged the scandal, confirming that the matter is also under investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said fraudsters had taken advantage of the recruitment exercise and warned that those found culpable would be prosecuted.
Basic Education PS, Prof Julius Bitok.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Prof Bitok stressed that recruitment of teachers is conducted strictly by the TSC under Article 237 of the Constitution, which mandates the commission to recruit, employ, promote, transfer and discipline teachers, as well as advise the government on staffing needs.
Investigations have also revealed long-standing political interference in teacher recruitment. In April 2025, Murang’a Woman Representative Betty Njeri Maina said MPs allied to the government were issued TSC employment letters at State House, Nairobi, to distribute to constituents.
Similar claims were made on December 14, 2024, by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, who publicly spoke about having access to TSC letters during a funeral, questioning how someone outside government could dish out recruitment letters on the spot.
In Bomet County, some senior politicians in the South Rift region are alleged to have had access to TSC appointment letters for years, which their agents sell to job seekers for between Sh250,000 and Sh400,000. The Konoin Sub-County TSC offices, which were closed by residents led by area MP Brighton Yegon on December 29, 2025, have since reopened.
Victims say they paid bribes directly to TSC officers or their agents using both cash and M-Pesa. TSC has asked complainants to provide evidence, including transaction records, while several homes and offices have reportedly been searched for documents.
Jane (not her real name) said she paid Sh350,000 in cash to an agent linked to a senior TSC official after her parents, small-scale tea farmers in Litein, took a bank loan to raise the money. She was issued with an appointment letter, submitted all documents, but is still waiting for a posting letter months later.
Another parent, John (not his real name), said he sold a quarter-acre of land to raise Sh350,000 to buy an appointment letter for his daughter.
“The letters are sold openly. The highest bidder usually gets the job,” he said.
Residents say the sale of TSC appointment letters has become normalised, locking out deserving candidates, including the elderly and persons with disabilities.
Advocate and journalism lecturer at Multimedia University Kipkirui Kap Telwa said recruitment and promotions at TSC had been hijacked by cartels involving senior officials and politicians.
Konoin MP Brighton Yegon called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of suspects, claiming residents in his constituency alone had cumulatively lost about Sh20 million to agents.
Former Bomet Mayor Kipkemoi Barsumei said merit-based employment was becoming extinct and urged TSC to prioritise teachers who have waited for years.
