Junior Secondary School (JSS) intern teachers have formally submitted a petition to Githunguri Member of Parliament Hon. Gathoni Wamuchomba, seeking her intervention in their push for confirmation to Permanent and Pensionable (PnP) employment under the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
The teachers, who have been serving under internship contracts since early 2023, say they have endured financial strain, job insecurity, and poor working conditions despite handling full teaching workloads similar to their permanently employed counterparts.
Teachers Demand Equal Treatment
Speaking after receiving the petition, Hon. Wamuchomba assured the group that she would present their grievances to Parliament and the National Assembly’s Education Committee.
“I have listened to your cries, and I will ensure your voices are heard. Teachers who dedicate themselves to shaping our children’s future deserve fair treatment,” said Hon. Wamuchomba outside her constituency office in Githunguri.
The teachers argue that TSC has not honored their expectations, even after promises made earlier in 2024 that their internship period would lead to automatic absorption once funds were available. Many of them have served for nearly two years on a stipend of KSh 20,000, which they say is inadequate given the rising cost of living.
Previous Promises and Growing Frustration
In July 2024, the Teachers Service Commission confirmed that more than 20,000 teachers were still on internship terms, despite earlier projections of permanent recruitment. The Commission had cited budget constraints as the main reason for the delay.
According to a related report by KenyanTeachers.com, the government had announced plans to hire 24,000 new teachers by January 2026, which raised hopes among JSS interns that their confirmation would be prioritized. (Read more here.)
However, those expectations are yet to materialize, leading to renewed agitation among intern teachers across various counties, including Kiambu, Murang’a, Kisii, Bungoma, and Nakuru.
Petition Highlights Teachers’ Struggles
The petition outlines several key concerns, including:
- Lack of job security for JSS intern teachers.
- Inadequate pay that does not match the workload.
- Delays in payment and lack of medical cover.
- Unclear communication from TSC regarding confirmation timelines.
One of the petitioners, Teacher Daniel Mwangi, shared his frustration:
“We’ve been patient long enough. We teach all core subjects, we assess learners, and we do co-curricular work — yet we remain interns. All we ask is fairness and recognition for our service.”
Support from Education Stakeholders
Education stakeholders have joined the conversation, urging the government and TSC to address the teachers’ plight before the start of the 2026 academic year.
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) have also supported the call, saying the JSS program cannot succeed without adequately motivated teachers.
KUPPET Secretary-General Akello Misori previously stated that the government should prioritize confirmation for all serving JSS interns before new recruitment begins.
Link to SHA and Welfare Concerns
Apart from job security, JSS teachers have also raised concerns about access to medical services. Following the government’s transition from Minet Insurance to the Social Health Authority (SHA), many teachers have reported delays in card activation and hospital approvals.
This shift has added to the pressure already facing educators, as noted in a recent KenyanTeachers.com report titled “From Minet to SHA: Madam Eveleen Amesema Hakuna Stress.” (Read the full story.)
What Next for the JSS Interns?
Hon. Wamuchomba has promised to raise the matter in Parliament and push for inclusion of JSS interns in the upcoming Supplementary Budget discussion. She emphasized that quality education depends on motivated teachers, and ignoring their welfare undermines the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) rollout.
Meanwhile, TSC has not issued an official response to the petition. Previous communication from the Commission indicated that confirmation would depend on funding allocations from the National Treasury.
As the debate continues, thousands of JSS intern teachers across the country await a definitive statement from TSC on whether they will finally be absorbed into permanent and pensionable terms by January 2026.
The Teachers Service Commission and the Ministry of Education have not yet commented on the latest petition.
