- The nomination of Wilson Sossion and Antonina Lentoijoni as TSC commissioners has reshaped the race for the commission’s substantive Chief Executive Officer.
- Their move to the commission narrows the list of perceived front-runners as attention shifts to the remaining contenders and the future of the recruitment process.
The nomination of former KNUT Secretary-General Wilson Sossion and TSC Director of Staffing Antonina Lentoijoni as commissioners of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has set the stage for what could become a significant succession battle over the appointment of the commission’s next substantive Chief Executive Officer.
The two nominees have been forwarded to Parliament for vetting and approval in accordance with the Constitution, a move that has generated fresh debate within education circles over its possible implications for the ongoing search for a substantive CEO.
It is worth noting that both Sossion and Lentoijoni had applied for the CEO position when the post was advertised in 2025. They were widely viewed by many education stakeholders as among the front-runners for the coveted position due to their extensive experience in the education sector.
Sossion built his credentials over nearly two decades as Secretary-General of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), where he established himself as a vocal union leader and a key figure in shaping education policy and championing teachers’ welfare. His long experience in labour relations and education governance made him one of the strongest candidates for the TSC top job.
Lentoijoni, on the other hand, is regarded as one of the commission’s most experienced insiders. As Director of Staffing, she has served under former TSC CEOs Gabriel Lengoiboni and Nancy Macharia, and is currently serving under Acting CEO Evaleen Mitei. Her experience in teacher recruitment, deployment and human resource management has earned her recognition as one of the commission’s most seasoned administrators.
Attention shifts to remaining contenders
With both Sossion and Lentoijoni now nominated as commissioners, education stakeholders believe the competition for the CEO position has effectively narrowed, creating room for the remaining contenders to strengthen their bids.
Attention is now shifting to other senior officials within the commission who are believed to be among the strongest candidates. They include TSC Finance Director Cheptumo Ayabei, Coast Regional Director Lilian Wachira and Operations Director Gabriel Mathenge, all of whom possess extensive experience within the commission and are seen as capable of taking over its leadership.
Among the trio, Ayabei commands a strong profile, having served in the commission’s finance department under several CEOs, including Benjamin Sogomo, Gabriel Lengoiboni, James Ongwae, Nancy Macharia and now Evaleen Mitei. His ability to earn the confidence of successive administrations is seen by many as a reflection of his professionalism.
Wachira is a seasoned field officer who served as County Director in several regions before being promoted to Regional Director. She later served in Western Region before being recalled to TSC headquarters as Senior Deputy Director in the Staffing Department. She was subsequently redeployed to serve as Coast Regional Director.
Mathenge, on the other hand, previously served as a senior officer in the Teacher Professional Management Department before being appointed Personal Assistant to former CEO Nancy Macharia. He was later promoted, in what some described as controversial circumstances, to the position of Operations Director, a docket that does not officially exist within TSC’s organisational structure. His role involved supervising directors heading various departments. Although he still holds the position, observers say his influence has diminished. Nevertheless, his connections could enable him to mount a serious challenge for the top job.
There could certainly be other front-runners for the coveted position, but TSC has yet to publicly release the full list of applicants who responded to the CEO advertisement. This means there could still be strong contenders from outside the commission.
Could Mitei still enter the race?
At the same time, some education observers argue that although Acting CEO Evaleen Mitei is reported not to have applied for the position when it was first advertised, she could still emerge as a possible candidate depending on how the recruitment process unfolds.
They point to her track record over the past year, during which she oversaw major reforms and programmes within the commission. These include the transition of teachers from the AON-MINET medical scheme to the Social Health Authority (SHA), implementation of teacher promotions, supervision of the recruitment of more than 100,000 teachers and management of several key operational reforms.
Some observers argue that if the commissioners unanimously support her leadership, they could push for her confirmation. Others believe the State could also influence the eventual appointment, although the recruitment process is governed by law.
Another possible scenario would arise if the courts direct that the CEO recruitment process be repeated to allow fresh applications from interested candidates. Under such circumstances, Mitei would have an opportunity to submit her application and compete alongside other candidates.
A fresh recruitment process could also arise if the commissioners decide to seek the withdrawal of the numerous court cases currently challenging the CEO recruitment process before re-advertising the position.
Although many observers consider this a difficult option, they note that it remains legally possible if the commission concludes that the prolonged court battles are delaying its operations and consensus is reached to begin the recruitment process afresh.
Should such an arrangement be initiated, Mitei would have a clear pathway to formally join the race for the commission’s top job.
Recruitment process under scrutiny
Under the TSC Act, the Chief Executive Officer is appointed through a competitive recruitment process conducted by the commission. The law does not provide for the appointment of a substantive CEO outside the procedures set out under the Act.
Even so, some education stakeholders argue that the influence surrounding appointments to such strategic public offices cannot be ignored, given the importance of the commission within Kenya’s public service. Under such circumstances, they believe the State will want to have a say in who eventually occupies the powerful office.
TSC remains the largest single employer in East and Central Africa, employing more than 500,000 teachers and secretariat staff.
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The commission plays a central role in teacher recruitment, deployment, promotions, discipline and the implementation of government education policies.
As Parliament prepares to consider the nominations of Sossion and Lentoijoni, attention is now firmly shifting to the next phase of the CEO succession process. With two perceived front-runners moving into commissioner positions, the race for one of Kenya’s most influential public offices appears to have entered a new and potentially decisive chapter.
By Kithinji Njeru
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