The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Chairman Dr Jamleck Muturi John is facing mounting scrutiny amid claims that he has played a central role in deepening leadership wrangles at the constitutional commission as internal power struggles intensify over who will succeed former Chief Executive Officer, Nancy Macharia.
At the heart of the controversy are allegations that the chairman has sought to influence the appointment of the next CEO in favour of preferred candidates and subsequently undermining the authority of Acting CEO and Secretary to the Commission, Eveleen Mitei.
The unfolding dispute has exposed deep fractures within the institution and raised concerns over governance, transparency and respect for the rule of law. It is reported that the tensions became more pronounced following the killing of teacher Stephen Vundi Musili in Garissa County after two separate press statements were issued in succession within 24 hours by the CEO’s office and the Chairman’s desk on the same matter.
Observers within the education sector interpreted the parallel communication as a sign of a breakdown in internal coordination and a possible attempt to dilute the authority of the Acting CEO, who under the Constitution and the TSC Act is the official spokesperson and the Commission’s head of administrative wing.
Sources familiar with internal goings-on say the chairman is perceivably openly opposed to Mitei’s elevation to the substantive CEO position and has instead been backing a serving director within the Commission.
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According to insiders, this director was viewed as the preferred candidate during the transition period following Macharia’s exit.
A second senior officer, who was stationed at the TSC staffing department, was strategically placed as a contingency plan should the preferred candidate fail to secure the position.
Both officers are said to originate from the same region as the chairman, a factor that has raised eyebrows among some commissioners and stakeholders, who fear that regional considerations may be influencing what is supposed to be a competitive and transparent recruitment process at the agency.
Governance experts warn that such actions risk blurring the lines between policy oversight and executive management, potentially weakening institutional cohesion.
During her tenure as acting CEO, Mitei is credited with overseeing the successful transition of teachers’ medical insurance from Minet to the Social Health Authority (SHA), a long-delayed process that had previously generated widespread dissatisfaction among teachers.
She is also credited with steering negotiations around the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for teachers within a relatively short period, at a time when unions were exerting intense pressure on the Commission.
Insiders say her handling of the CBA talks helped avert industrial unrest and stabilised labour relations in the education sector.
Despite this track record, sources say tensions escalated further around December last year after a proposal allegedly championed by the chairman sought to rotate the acting CEO position among several contenders.
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Commissioners are reported to have rejected the proposal, arguing that once an officer is appointed to act, they should remain in office until a substantive CEO is appointed, in line with established public service practice and principles of continuity.
Although Mitei did not apply for the substantive CEO position when applications were invited, pressure is said to be mounting from teachers’ unions and education stakeholders to have her confirmed.
They argue that continuity, institutional memory and performance should be prioritized over internal politics, especially at a time when teachers are grappling with insecurity in high-risk regions, delayed promotions and welfare concerns.
Analysts warn that prolonged leadership wrangles could distract the Commission from its core mandate and undermine public confidence in one of the country’s most important constitutional bodies.
They caution that perceptions of interference, regional bias or personal rivalry could damage the credibility of the CEO recruitment process.
The hiring of a new CEO is a subject of a court matter filed by a petitioner who challenged the process and a ruling on the case is expected tomorrow.
By Our Reporter
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