A secondary school teacher from Chepngaina Secondary School in Bomet Central Sub-county has urged the government to “stop the circus” surrounding the confirmation of intern teachers, saying mixed messages from top officials have created confusion and disappointment among educators.
Emmanuel Ng’eno said it was disturbing to hear conflicting statements from government leaders over the future of Junior Secondary School (JSS) intern teachers.
His remarks come after Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi assured the public that all serving JSS interns will be confirmed to permanent and pensionable terms before January 2026, while Education CS Julius Ogambo said interns whose contracts end in December will have to renew them unless funds are released early for confirmation.
“I thought the government is one. How can the Treasury CS say teachers will be confirmed before 2026, while the Education CS insists they must renew their contracts?” Ng’eno asked. “Teachers are tired of this back-and-forth. The government should stop the circus and speak with one voice.”
Mbadi, while speaking during an interview on a local radio station on Wednesday, had assured intern teachers that the confirmation process will begin immediately after the KCSE examinations, adding that funds have already been factored into the upcoming budget.
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“I know many interns are anxious and have been sending me messages,” Mbadi said. “Please don’t flood my inbox. I assure you, the conversion will happen before January 2026.”
National Assembly Education Committee Chairman and Tindiret MP Julius Melly echoed the Treasury CS’s remarks, confirming that the government plans to absorb about 20,000 JSS interns before January 2026.
However, Education CS Julius Ogambo, while in National assembly, said that interns whose one-year contracts expire this December will have to renew them if funds are not made available in time.
“Unless the Treasury releases resources, we have no option but to renew the contracts until the confirmation process can be financed,” Ogambo said.
Ng’eno criticized the lack of coordination between the ministries, saying the contradictions are demoralizing hardworking teachers who already feel neglected.
“These are trained professionals doing the same work as permanent teachers. Yet they are paid peanuts that can’t sustain them in today’s economy. The bottom line is simple — confirm them. They’ve earned it.” Said, who is also an aspirant for Bomet KUPPET chairman.
His comments reflect growing frustration within the education sector, as KUPPET and intern teachers continue to pressurise the government to honour its promise, arguing that the internship model amounts to exploitation disguised as training.
By Philip Koech
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