County governments barred from hiring nursery teachers

What you need to know:

  • Kenya National Union of Teachers moved to court to stop the “purported infringement of roles” of the Teachers Service Commission by county governments.

The High Court has stopped county governments from hiring nursery school teachers until a dispute over the recruitment is determined.

Kenya National Union of Teachers moved to court to stop the “purported infringement of roles” of the Teachers Service Commission by county governments.

Through lawyer John Mulika, the union said that advertisements had already been sent out by most counties to recruit teachers and this amounts to “usurpation of the role of TSC.”

According to Mr Mulika, the recruitment exercise is not being carried out within any legal framework.

Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion said he had received credible information that county governments are attempting to directly recruit and employ the teachers.

QUALITY OF EDUCATION

“The role and function of recruitment and employment of teachers is expressly conferred upon the TSC,” he said adding that such a move would be unconstitutional and a contra-statute. “TSC is the only body with the technical ability, capacity and expertise to assess and vet applicants to fill up the positions of teachers."

Mr Sossion maintained that county governments are likely to undermine the quality of education in Kenya as there is no guarantee or assurance of the calibre of persons recruited. 

Lawyer Mulika had urged the court to issue orders criminalising any purported recruitment or employment carried out in an unregulated manner.

Justice Isaac Lenaola issued a temporary stoppage and asked Mr Mulika to serve the order to all counties through the local dailies.