Godfrey Simiyu, the celebrated handball coach who has steered Moi Girls’ Kamusinga to nine national titles and four East African championships, remains outside the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) payroll nearly a decade after qualifying. Despite his achievements and academic credentials, Simiyu continues to work under the Board of Management (BOM) as he awaits formal employment.
Simiyu holds a Diploma in Information Communication Technology from the Technical University of Mombasa and later pursued a Diploma in Education (Computer Studies), graduating in 2015. He was issued a TSC number in 2016, formally qualifying him to teach. Since then, he has applied for employment repeatedly without success.
“I have been applying since 2016 without success. It’s discouraging to see colleagues I studied with get employed while I’m still waiting,” Simiyu said as quoted by one of the local news outlets.
Determined to strengthen his credentials, Simiyu enrolled at Kenyatta University in 2017 and graduated in 2023 with a Bachelor of Education (Arts), specialising in History and Geography. Yet, despite the additional qualification, his efforts to secure employment have not borne fruit.
In 2025, Moi Girls’ Kamusinga principal Joyce Malunda personally delivered his documents and recommendations from the school board and the TSC sub‑county office to headquarters in Nairobi, but the attempt yielded no results.
Simiyu explained that he was told employment is not based on achievements in sports, even though he has applied for replacement positions and continues to wait for shortlisting.
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Since joining Moi Girls’ Kamusinga in 2011, Simiyu has transformed the school into a handball powerhouse. He ended a four‑year drought by leading the team to a national title in 2012 and has since maintained dominance, losing only three finals in 2016, 2018, and 2023.
His contribution has been recognized with multiple letters and awards from TSC, including in 2023 and 2025, but he says recognition without employment remains painful. “Even colleagues ask what those letters have helped me achieve,” he remarked.
Back then in 2023, the then Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu announced that teachers excelling at East African school games would be promoted, but the initiative largely benefited those already employed by TSC, leaving BOM teachers like Simiyu excluded. “I only asked for employment, not promotion,” he said, disappointed that opportunities were limited to those already in the system.
Kenya Secondary School Sports Association (KSSSA) chairperson Kipchumba Maiyo has acknowledged Simiyu’s case, saying it deserves attention. He noted that he can recommend Simiyu for consideration so that when opportunities arise, he is given priority. Maiyo added that the Ministry of Education works with schools to motivate outstanding sports teachers through recognition and promotions.
However, Simiyu remains hopeful that 2026 will finally deliver the employment letter he has waited for since 2016.
By Masaki Enock
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