Kwale JSS interns issue ultimatum to govt and TSC over confirmation
Kwale Junior Secondary School (JSS) intern teachers have threatened to down their tools if the government and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) fail to employ them on permanent and pensionable terms by January 2026.
The protest follows claims that President William Ruto, on Thursday, November 13, 2025, remarked that the internship programme for JSS teachers would run for two years, a statement the interns say contradicts their official contracts.
You might also like
Speaking during a demonstration at the Ukunda Showground in Msambweni Sub-county on Friday, November 14, 2025, Kwale KUPPET branch Executive Secretary Leonard Oronje accused the government of shifting goalposts, insisting that the contracts clearly indicated a 12-month internship.
Oronje further argued that the internship arrangement is unlawful and violates both human rights and labour laws.
“JSS teachers refute what the President said yesterday that teachers should serve a two-year internship, yet our contract letters state one year. Moreover, it is not the mandate of TSC to keep teachers on internship,” he said.
He said the teachers deserve better, noting that they are fully trained professionals who must be absorbed on permanent and pensionable terms.
Oronje added that the interns will not accept what he termed as injustices, urging the government to urgently address their grievances.
He also noted that during the teachers’ last visit to the State House, there was no agreement on any internship extension.
Oronje warned that failure by the government to confirm the JSS teachers would trigger a nationwide demonstration.
He further said it is unfair for intern teachers to shoulder full teaching responsibilities while their contribution to the learning process remains undervalued.
JSS teachers are struggling?
Moreover, Oronje said a majority of JSS interns are struggling with mental health challenges, with some reportedly on the verge of suicide due to poor remuneration and harsh working conditions.
“I normally receive numerous messages from teachers, even late at night. Some say they have reached their breaking point,” he said.
Another teacher, Mangale Juma, warned that JSS teachers will not return to class in January if they are not employed on permanent and pensionable terms.
Juma accused the government of exploiting the internship programme as a source of cheap labour at the expense of teachers’ wellbeing and professional growth.
He said the teachers demand immediate confirmation, adding that permanent employment is not a privilege but a constitutional right.
On her part, Maureen Njoki said the Ksh17,000 stipend paid to interns is too little to meet their basic needs.
She said the harsh economic conditions have hit underpaid teachers hard, especially those working in poorly resourced schools.
Njoki noted that JSS teachers deserve decent salaries and fair treatment like their counterparts who are fully employed.
