Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has faulted the government for failing to confirm the Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers who have been serving as interns across the country for one year.
Matiang’i said it is unacceptable that the government keeps repeating the same excuse that ‘there is no money’ while making no effort to offer stability to the 20,000 JSS interns who have been working for months.
He wondered how the government can claim to be broke yet still move around the country dishing out handouts at political events.
According to him, it has become ‘a shameful debate every now and then’—the endless back-and-forth about confirming the 20,000 JSS interns without any real action.
Matiang’i questioned why the government is even considering hiring another batch of interns before confirming the ones already serving in schools.
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He pointed out that the current interns have already proved their dedication and value in supporting the education system and should not be left hanging while new groups are recruited.
The former CS also addressed the contradiction that has frustrated many Kenyans.
He noted that whenever it is about confirming the interns, the government immediately says there is no money.
“Yet the same government always seems to have enough funds for political mobilization. At any moment, the government can hire 50 buses to take people to a president meeting and still give these people handouts to ensure attendance,” he highlighted.
Matiang’i said this inconsistency shows where the government’s priorities truly lie, adding that while teachers continue to serve under uncertainty, the government repeatedly spends large sums on political functions, tours, and events.
He emphasized that if money can be found for buses, allowances, and crowds, then money should also be available to confirm teachers who contribute directly to the country’s education goals.
The parents, teachers, and the wider public have echoed these concerns. They argue that the interns deserve respect, stability, and recognition for the important work they do. The constant excuses have become tiresome, and many believe it is time for the government to stop delaying and finally confirm the JSS interns teachers.
By Mosoti Mogambi
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