MPs push to address plight of unemployed teachers aged over 45 years
Members of the National Assembly have called on the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to adopt affirmative action measures to address the plight of over 39,000 registered teachers aged 45 and above who remain unemployed.
Speaking during a parliamentary session of the Committee on Education on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, after hosting TSC Acting CEO Evaleen Mitei, Soy MP David Kiplagat, who is a member of the Committee, sought data on the number of unemployed teachers above 45 years.
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He urged the Commission to provide a policy framework to absorb them.
“Looking at the data you’ve presented, my questions may not have been answered,” Kiplagat said.
“You have said you don’t have the budget to hire all the teachers, but surely, we can do something for those who’ve waited this long.”
He called for urgent intervention. “Let us have affirmative action. Compel the TSC to come up with a framework to absorb teachers aged 45 years and above.”
Unemployed teachers
Appearing before the Committee on Education, Mitei revealed that as of June 2025, 39,017 teachers aged over 45 were registered but not employed by the Commission.
She also noted that only 2,837 of them had disclosed their counties and sub-counties of residence.
“The Commission regrets that out of the 39,017 teachers, only 2,837 provided full location data,” Mitei said. “This limits our ability to analyse the regional distribution of these teachers accurately,” she revealed.
“Looking at the data you have presented, my questions may not have been answered,” Kiplagat said. “You have said you do not have the budget to hire all the teachers, but surely, we can do something for those who’ve waited this long.”
TSC data
According to TSC data, only 13 teachers aged 45 and above were recruited in Uasin Gishu County during the 2024/2025 financial year out of a total of 516 hired nationally.
Mitei further cited the TSC’s ongoing efforts to improve inclusivity, adding that the Commission uses a merit-based system that awards more points to older applicants and those who graduated earlier.
“We acknowledge the feedback on affirmative action and will consult our board. We also wish to clarify that while these teachers are registered and not employed by TSC, many may be engaged in other sectors, including private schools,” said the Acting CEO.
