TSC Rejects Claims President Ruto Issues Teacher Employment Letters to MPs

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has rejected claims that President William Ruto issues teacher employment letters to Members of Parliament for distribution, clarifying that the constitutional mandate to recruit and employ teachers rests solely with the Commission.

The clarification comes days after National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula alleged that some MPs demand money from job seekers in exchange for TSC appointment letters.

Wetang’ula further claimed that MPs are taken to State House, where the President hands them batches of teacher employment letters to distribute in their constituencies, prompting questions over the role of political leaders in the recruitment process.

TSC’s Firm Response

In a circular sent to all regional and county directors dated Thursday, August 27, TSC said the Speaker’s remarks suggesting that the President issues employment letters to MPs were inaccurate and misleading.

“The Commission wishes to clarify that the statement is not true and is misleading,” TSC said.

“The recruitment and employment of registered teachers, including the issuance of employment letters, is a constitutional mandate of the Teachers Service Commission.”

TSC said all employment letters are therefore issued through its established recruitment procedures and applicable guidelines, rather than through political offices.

Political Patronage Claims

The statement comes amid renewed scrutiny of teacher recruitment after claims that some politicians have been using employment letters as a tool for political patronage.

This comes at a time when some desperate job seekers are allegedly being asked to pay large sums of money to secure positions.

Wetang’ula’s earlier remarks intensified the debate because he described a process in which MPs allegedly receive appointment letters in bulk before distributing them to prospective teachers.

This has since led to unease among prospective job seekers, raising questions about the independence of the recruitment process.

Reactions from Leaders

The claims have also drawn criticism from political figures and other leaders who have previously alleged that teacher recruitment letters are allocated to MPs for distribution to supporters, despite TSC’s constitutional mandate.

On Tuesday, National Assembly Education Committee Chairperson Julius Melly also rubbished the claims and instead asked Kenyans with information on the scheme to volunteer information.

Melly urged anyone with evidence of bribery or irregular distribution of employment letters to report to the relevant authorities.

Constitutional Mandate

Under Article 237 of the Kenyan Constitution, TSC is established as an independent commission responsible for:

• Recruiting and employing registered teachers
• Registering trained teachers
• Advising the national government on matters relating to teaching

The Commission has consistently maintained that its recruitment processes are guided by merit, transparency and fairness, and that political interference undermines the integrity of the teaching profession.

What Next?

As the debate continues, TSC has urged the public to ignore claims that employment letters are distributed through political channels. The Commission has also encouraged qualified teachers to follow the official recruitment channels outlined in its advertisements.

This article was updated on August 27, 2026, with details of TSC’s circular and reactions from leaders.