Nandi schools grapple with deputy principal shortage as acting appointments persist

Nandi County is facing a quiet but consequential leadership crisis in its public secondary school with more than half of deputy principals serving in an acting capacity.

The situation is especially pronounced in Nandi South, where 37 out of 51 schools lack substantive deputy principals, and in Nandi North, where over 50 per cent of schools are without Deputy Heads of Institution.

It is reported that this is not an isolated anomaly but a widespread staffing gap affecting the entire county, whereby several factors appear to be driving this trend. Among them is the prolonged delay in promotions and confirmations by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

The sources within the county allude that many teachers have served diligently in acting roles for extended periods, yet promotion interviews are irregular and often postponed due to budgetary limitations, legal challenges, or ongoing policy reviews as vacancies remain unfilled despite the availability of qualified personnel.

This issue has further compounded to the problems bedeviling the education sector in the region as experienced administrators exit the system, replacements are not done at the same pace, leaving principals overstretched and schools administratively vulnerable.

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Equally it is alleged that there is significant growing reluctance among teachers to seek deputy principal positions, saying that the role comes with increased workload, heightened accountability and pressure from parents, boards and education officials, yet offers minimal financial incentive, especially for those serving in an acting capacity.

This has pressed heavy impact on schools as Deputy Principals are central to discipline, academic supervision and daily operations.

Prolonged acting appointments undermine leadership stability, weaken institutional continuity, and affect staff morale.

As Nandi County works to strengthen education standards, addressing this leadership gap through timely promotions, structured succession planning and improved support for school administrators is increasingly urgent.

By Alfred Binott