Acting TSC CEO Eveleen Mitei has exceeded expectations in her first 80 days in office since June 1st. When she assumed the helm of the commission in an acting capacity, many expected her to play the role of a caretaker, keeping the machinery running until a substantive appointment was made. What has unfolded instead is a display of purposeful leadership, marked by decisive interventions, calm authority, and tangible results that have reenergized both teachers and the larger education sector.
Eighty days is a short span, yet in that period Mitei has moved with unusual urgency to address issues that had stalled for months, some for years. Under her stewardship, the long-delayed senior school retooling training program finally kicked off in August, giving teachers the capacity to navigate curriculum shifts with confidence. It was a move that reassured educators and parents alike that the commission is committed to aligning human resources with the demands of the Competency-Based Curriculum. At a time when curriculum reform was in danger of stalling for lack of teacher preparedness, this initiative provided a badly needed shot in the arm.
Her role in unlocking the stalled Collective Bargaining Agreement was equally significant. For teachers, a CBA is not just about pay but about recognition, respect, and fair treatment. To bring closure to a matter that had lingered unresolved was to restore hope and trust in the institution. It demonstrated that leadership is not about hiding behind technicalities but about finding solutions that balance financial realities with the need to affirm the teaching profession.
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Perhaps the most celebrated of her decisions has been the promotion of teachers who had stagnated in the same job groups for far too long. For many, this promotion was more than a career milestone; it was the restoration of dignity. Years of waiting had left countless teachers demoralized, questioning whether their service and academic upgrading would ever be acknowledged. By clearing this backlog, Mitei rekindled motivation across the profession. In a sector where morale is as crucial as resources, this was no small victory.
Staffing in Junior Secondary Schools had become one of the most contentious issues of the CBC transition. In just under three months, Mitei has overseen the hiring of more than 20,000 teachers to address glaring shortages, in addition to facilitating the recruitment of over 25,000 interns. This dual approach, combining immediate relief with a longer-term pipeline, has steadied schools that were struggling to cope. For parents and learners, the visible presence of more teachers in classrooms has provided reassurance that the future of JSS is secure. At the same time, the creation of opportunities for interns has opened the door for fresh graduates to gain valuable experience while easing the burden in schools.
Alongside these headline achievements has been her quieter but equally important investment in digital efficiency. By streamlining online systems for registration, promotions, and leave applications, she has reduced the bottlenecks that often frustrate teachers. Public service in Kenya is notorious for red tape, but under her leadership the Commission is beginning to prove that it can serve at the pace of the modern digital workplace. For younger teachers, this shift has been particularly welcome, as it reflects an institution that speaks the language of their time.
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What stands out most, however, is her style of leadership. Calm, deliberate and inclusive, she has resisted the temptation of abrasive command. She has instead embraced the art of listening, engaging with teacher unions and offering dialogue where there was once hostility. This has created a new mood of cooperation in industrial relations. Even critics concede that the tone has changed, and that the Commission now feels less like a distant bureaucracy and more like a partner in the teachers’ journey.
Eighty days is hardly enough to measure the depth of leadership, but it is long enough to gauge intent. The intent is clear: to make the Teachers Service Commission responsive, efficient, and humane. By focusing on training, promotions, CBAs, and staffing, Mitei has touched the nerve points that matter most to teachers. These are not abstract policy victories but decisions that have changed lives in real time. In a profession often starved of recognition, such gestures go a long way.
The road ahead remains full of challenges. Resources will remain tight, demands for more recruitment will grow, and industrial relations will continue to test her patience and skill. Yet, if her first 80 days since June 1st are anything to go by, Eveleen Mitei has demonstrated that she is not content with being a caretaker. She is a reformer with a quiet resolve, willing to confront long-standing bottlenecks and deliver results where others hesitated.
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For Kenya’s teachers, her first 80 days have been a season of renewed hope. Hope that stalled agreements can be signed. Hope that stagnated careers can be revived. Hope that understaffed schools can be rescued. Hope that the employer can speak to them not only in rules and circulars but also in empathy and fairness. And for a nation where the quality of education is tied so directly to the morale of its teachers, these first steps are nothing short of transformative.
In the end, Eveleen Mitei’s opening chapter at the Teachers Service Commission is a reminder that leadership is not about waiting for permanence of title. It is about using the time given, however short, to make a difference. And in just 80 days since June 1st, she has exceeded expectations and set a standard that will be hard to ignore.
By Ashford Kimani.
Ashford teaches English and Literature in Gatundu North Sub County and serves as Dean of Studies
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