President William Ruto's plan to fill vacancies at the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has suffered a setback after the High Court temporarily halted the vetting of two newly nominated commissioners.
The Kerugoya High Court issued conservatory orders stopping any process to consider, vet or approve the nominations of former KNUT Secretary General Wilson Sossion and education expert Antonina Lentoijoni, pending the determination of a court case challenging their appointments.
The ruling comes just days after the President named the two nominees through Notification of Presidential Action No. XI of 2026, setting the stage for a legal battle over appointments to one of Kenya's most influential constitutional commissions.
High Court Stops TSC Vetting Process
In orders issued on Thursday, July 30, Justice Joyce Mkambe Gandani restrained the Teachers Service Commission, its committees, officers and agents from proceeding with the vetting or approval of the two nominees.
"A Conservatory order is hereby issued restraining the 2nd respondent... from considering, vetting or approving the nomination of the 5th and 6th respondents as Commissioners of the Teachers Service Commission pursuant to Notification of Presidential Action No XI of 2026," the court order stated.
The President had nominated Sossion and Lentoijoni to strengthen the leadership of the commission through a notification issued by Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei.
However, the appointments immediately landed in court after petitioner Kelvin Wafula filed an urgent application challenging the process.
Petition Filed Against the Appointments
Justice Gandani certified the case as urgent, paving the way for immediate conservatory orders to preserve the status quo before the dispute is heard.
The orders will remain in force for 21 days, effectively freezing all vetting and approval processes involving the two nominees.
The decision means the TSC cannot move forward with any parliamentary or internal approval procedures until the court gives further directions.
Court Warns Against Ignoring the Orders
The court also attached a penal notice warning that anyone who disregards the conservatory orders risks contempt of court proceedings.
According to the order, any individual or institution that disobeys the directive could face legal sanctions for failing to comply with the court's instructions.
The case has been scheduled for an inter partes hearing on August 18, when all parties will present their arguments before the court decides whether the conservatory orders should remain in place or be lifted.
The outcome of the case could determine whether President Ruto's nominees proceed to become TSC commissioners or whether the appointment process will have to begin afresh, potentially affecting the commission's leadership and decision-making at a critical time for Kenya's education sector.
