The National Assembly has declined to proceed with a petition challenging the alleged unconstitutional exploitation and discriminatory remuneration of graduate teacher interns by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), citing an ongoing court case on the matter.
In a letter dated February 19, 2026, the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly acknowledged receipt of the petition but advised the petitioner, who was only named Kipkirui from Longisa, Bomet county, to allow the judicial process to take its full course before Parliament can consider the matter.
The petition had raised concerns over what was described as unconstitutional exploitation and discriminatory pay practices affecting graduate teacher interns under the TSC.
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The petitioner argued that the internship model violates legitimate expectations of fair compensation and perpetuates an unlawful employment framework.
However, the Clerk of the National Assembly stated that under the Petitions to Parliament (Procedure) Act, 2012 and Standing Order 223(1)(g), Parliament is restricted from considering matters that are pending before a court of law or another constitutional or legal body.
“In your submission, you have indicated that there is an ongoing legal suit concerning breach of legitimate expectation and continued perpetuation of an illegal internship model,” the letter reads in part.
The clerk added: “In light of this, you are advised to allow the judicial process to run its full course and await the final determination of the issues currently before the court.”
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The decision effectively halts parliamentary consideration of the concerns until the court case is concluded.
The issue of teacher internships has been a subject of debate with critics arguing that interns perform duties similar to fully employed teachers but receive significantly lower pay and fewer benefits.
The supporters of reform have called for the absorption of interns into permanent and pensionable terms.
The outcome of the ongoing court proceedings is expected to have significant implications for education sector employment policies and the future of teacher internship programs in Kenya.
By Kithinji Njeru
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