By PPT and Our Correspondent
The Departmental Committee on Education, chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly yesterday held consultative talks with the Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC) top officials over the pending recruitment of tutors.
The committee met the officials who were led by the TSC CEO Nancy Macharia who in her submission dismissed allegations that the lawmakers will be involved in the ongoing recruitment of 35,000 teachers.
She said the exercise, just like in the past such undertakings will be carried out by TSC and assured the public that the excercise will be above board.
“When it comes to the recruitment of teachers, let me clarify that MPs have no role whatsoever, ” Ms Macharia told the Members of the National Assembly Education Committee.
She added, “The excercise will be done by TSC. From the sub-county level upwards. And we want to assure Kenyans that the process will be free, fair and credible.”
Ms Macharia was responding to concerns raised by members of the House Committee led by its Chairperson Julius Melly, about the alleged role of legislators in the exercise.
” You should clarify to Kenyans that lawmakers have absolutely no role in the planned hiring and recruitment of the 35,000 teachers in January, ” said Melly.
While making her remarks, the TSC boss revealed that the commission is seeking to hire 35,550 teachers in both primary and secondary schools.
According to Ms Macharia, 9,000 of the recruited teachers will be posted to junior secondary schools on permanent and pensionable terms while another 1,000 teachers will be posted to primary schools on the same permanent and pensionable terms.
She explained that 21,550 interns will be posted to junior secondary schools and 4,000 interns, will be absorbed in primary schools.
The recruitment is considered necessary to ensure a smooth running of the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) programme.
In the last one week, various Members of Parliament have been placing notices inviting professional teachers registered by TSC for constituency based meetings.
Yesterday, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro held such a meeting while today, his Mukurwe-ini counterpart John Kaguchia has convened one in his constituency.
Suleiman Mbatiah 
James Wakahiu