The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has revoked transfer letters issued to Nairobi-based teachers who had been controversially posted to Kitui County, contrary to the government’s abolished delocalisation policy.
The affected teachers, who had recently been promoted, appealed the move, terming it a “punitive promotion”, citing challenges that include advanced age, health complications, and separation from ailing spouses, which they said was causing emotional issues.
Following the appeals, some teachers have since received letters confirming that their promotions remain valid. The letters further assured them that they will continue serving in their current stations until appropriate vacancies arise within Nairobi and the surrounding counties.
“The commission acknowledges receipt of your appeal dated September 10, 2025, in which you requested to be retained in Nairobi County on medical grounds following your recent promotion to the position of Deputy Head Teacher II, Grade C4,” reads one such letter.
The teachers are part of the 23,000 who were promoted by the TSC in May 2025.
However, many were shocked on September 1 when they received transfer letters assigning them to distant counties, just months before some were due for retirement.
The delocalisation policy, which was abolished in 2022, had allowed TSC to transfer teachers to counties outside their places of origin to minimise conflict of interest in school administration.
The recent postings to Kitui County were viewed by many as a reintroduction of the policy under a different guise. This prompted the teachers to protest, fearing that the transfers would disrupt families.
A total of 156 teachers under the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), many of whom are above 50 years, had been posted to Kitui County, including 52 deputy headteachers, 43 head teachers, 35 deputy principals and 26 principals.
“Those who reported to Kitui have been posted to schools in remote areas, far from town centers and with their advanced age, are staring at a tough life,” said Knut Nairobi Branch Secretary, Macharia Mugwe.
His Kuppet counterpart, Owiti Mbora, echoed the concerns, saying many promoted teachers had been forced to start afresh in unfamiliar environments, a daunting prospect for those nearing retirement.
Union officials had demanded that the affected teachers be allowed to retain their promotions while waiting for suitable vacancies in Nairobi, arguing that it was not their fault that local positions were unavailable.
“Your promotion to the position of Deputy Head Teacher II, Grade C4 remains valid, and your remuneration will be adjusted accordingly,” read a letter from TSC dated October 1, 2025.
The Commission added that the temporary arrangement would remain in effect until suitable vacancies arise in Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, Kajiado, or any other nearby county, after which the teachers would be posted accordingly.
Many of the teachers said they had worked in Nairobi for decades and had built their lives there. Being transferred to far-flung counties, they argued, would force them to uproot their lives during a critical phase of their careers.
When the TSC announced 25,000 available positions for promotion, it received over 189,000 applications, triggering widespread claims of bias and unfairness.
After releasing the initial list of 25,252 successful applicants in April, both the National Assembly and Senate rejected it, citing violations of the three-year service requirement. Although TSC admitted it had relaxed the rule to fill certain gaps, lawmakers were unconvinced, prompting a stalemate.
Following sustained pressure and a parliamentary directive, TSC released a revised list of 23,000 promotions on May 29. However, confusion and anxiety persisted, as some teachers received official appointment letters while others remained in limbo.
