National Assembly Education Committee chair Julius Melly has dismissed claims that politicians receive Teachers Service Commission (TSC) employment letters to distribute or sell to jobseekers.
The Tinderet MP said teacher recruitment follows a structured process involving Parliament, the TSC and staffing assessments conducted across counties and sub-counties.
Melly’s remarks come after National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula alleged that some MPs receive multiple teacher employment letters for distribution to constituents, with some allegedly selling the opportunities for hundreds of thousands of shillings.
Melly Challenges Claims of Political Allocation
Melly said it would be impossible for politicians to legitimately distribute TSC employment letters because recruitment must follow established procedures.
According to the MP, Parliament first approves funding for teacher recruitment. The TSC then receives the funds, advertises available positions, establishes staffing requirements and assesses vacancies according to county and sub-county needs.
He argued that the process does not provide room for MPs to independently allocate teaching positions.
“There is no way you can go around issuing recruitment letters to teachers in the streets without proper recruitment procedures,” Melly said.
His comments directly challenge the claims attributed to Wetang’ula and raise questions about how the alleged employment letters could have reached politicians if the official recruitment system was being followed.
Wetang’ula Claims MPs Receive 10 Letters
Wetang’ula recently claimed that some MPs are given as many as 10 teacher employment letters intended for distribution among constituents.
The Speaker further alleged that some politicians sell the opportunities to desperate jobseekers.
He cited a case in which a parent was allegedly asked to pay Ksh400,000 to secure a teaching position for her child.
Wetang’ula condemned the alleged practice, describing it as immoral and raising concerns about the vulnerability of unemployed teachers seeking government jobs.
The claims have generated fresh scrutiny over the transparency of TSC recruitment and the possible involvement of political actors in employment decisions.
Education Committee Seeks Evidence
Melly said he had not encountered evidence of MPs receiving or selling TSC employment letters despite his position as chair of the parliamentary committee responsible for education matters.
Rather than dismissing the allegations outright, however, he said the committee would seek clarification from Wetang’ula.
Melly wants the Speaker to provide details about the circumstances surrounding the claims before the committee determines whether further action is necessary.
The committee could subsequently examine documented complaints from teachers, parents and jobseekers to establish whether recruitment opportunities have been improperly allocated.
Melly said evidence would be critical in determining whether the alleged scheme exists.
Political Influence Raises Concern
The controversy comes amid growing concerns about political involvement in teacher recruitment, deployment and transfers.
TSC has repeatedly maintained that teacher employment and deployment fall within its mandate.
However, political pressure has remained a recurring concern in the education sector, particularly when vacancies are limited and thousands of qualified teachers compete for available positions.
The issue gained further attention after President William Ruto pledged 50 teaching positions for members of the Akorino denomination in April.
The announcement raised questions about whether political leaders could influence the distribution of teaching opportunities.
The latest allegations have therefore reopened debate about the independence of the teacher recruitment process.
KNUT Raises Teacher Transfer Concerns
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has also previously raised concerns about alleged political interference in teacher transfers.
In July, union officials in Lurambi, Kakamega County, accused politicians of interfering with teacher transfers and called on the TSC to protect educators from political influence.
The concerns extend beyond recruitment to deployment and transfers, areas that can significantly affect teachers’ working conditions and career progression.
For jobseekers, however, the alleged sale of employment opportunities is particularly sensitive because teaching positions remain highly competitive.
Any system that allows individuals to purchase employment would undermine merit-based recruitment and potentially exclude qualified candidates without financial or political connections.
TSC Yet to Respond
The TSC has not yet issued a fresh response to the latest allegations involving politicians and employment letters.
However, Acting TSC Chief Executive Officer Evaleen Mitei previously warned politicians and other stakeholders against interfering with teacher deployment.
The commission has maintained that teacher deployment is an institutional responsibility governed by established procedures.
Melly’s comments appear to reinforce that position, although the Education Committee now faces pressure to establish whether the allegations raised by the Speaker have any factual basis.
A formal investigation could help determine whether employment letters were improperly issued, whether political figures were involved and whether jobseekers were asked to pay for teaching positions.
Jobseekers Await Clarity
The controversy has placed the teacher recruitment process under renewed public scrutiny.
For thousands of unemployed and qualified teachers, the credibility of the recruitment system depends on whether vacancies are awarded transparently and on merit.
If Wetang’ula’s allegations are substantiated, the matter could expose serious weaknesses in the management of public employment and raise questions about accountability within the recruitment system.
If the claims cannot be supported by evidence, however, they could still damage public confidence in the TSC and fuel suspicion around legitimate recruitment exercises.
The Education Committee is now expected to establish the facts before determining its next course of action.
The dispute has intensified scrutiny of TSC recruitment, with MPs facing pressure to prove whether political figures influence or profit from teaching jobs.
