The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has rolled out thousands of internship vacancies across all 47 counties, with Western and Nyanza emerging as the biggest beneficiaries. Kakamega led nationally with 1,187 slots, followed closely by Bungoma with 1,182 and Homa Bay with 1,058.
Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General Collins Oyuu welcomed the allocations, saying they would ease pressure in schools struggling with high enrolment. However, he urged the government to convert the internships into permanent jobs to safeguard long-term staffing stability.
The allocations varied widely across counties, reflecting population size, number of schools and regional staffing needs. Western Kenya dominated the list, with Busia receiving 652 and Vihiga 380. In Nyanza, Migori was allocated 698, Kisii 682, Kisumu 681, Siaya 741 and Nyamira 429. Sub-counties such as Ndhiwa in Homa Bay received some of the highest allocations, while smaller ones like Suba West got fewer, showing the diverse needs within regions.
The Rift Valley recorded varied allocations across its expansive counties. Bomet received 422 vacancies, with Sotik sub-county taking 123. Kericho was allocated 424, with Bureti having the highest share. Baringo had 499, with Mogotio and Koibatek each receiving 78 while Mukutani and Tiaty East got only 16 each. Elgeyo Marakwet was given 411, with Keiyo South taking 121 while Turkana was given 289. Larger counties such as Nakuru and Uasin Gishu also received significant allocations, while smaller ones like Samburu was given just 124.
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Eastern Kenya reflected a mix of high and low allocations. Kitui stood out with 925 vacancies, placing it among the top four counties, while Machakos was given 807, with Yatta and Mwala sub-counties each receiving more than 130. Embu was allocated 352, with Embu East getting 88. Meru and Tharaka Nithi also received notable shares, while Isiolo recorded only 87 vacancies, the second-lowest nationally, with Bothai sub-county getting just two.
In Central Kenya, allocations were moderate. Kiambu was given 664 vacancies, with Juja sub-county taking 79, while Ndeiya and Thika East received the lowest at 13 and 14 respectively. Nyeri, Murang’a and Kirinyaga also received their share, with figures balanced between rural and urban schools.
The Coast region presented a similar pattern of contrast. Kilifi received 797, with Malindi sub-county allocated 158, while Kwale was given 492. Taita Taveta recorded 156, while Lamu received only 95, the second-lowest allocation after Isiolo. Within Lamu, Lamu West got 54 vacancies while Lamu East was given just 15. Mombasa was given 192 to support its urban schools.
North Eastern counties were among the lowest recipients. Garissa was allocated 139 vacancies, Mandera 240 and Wajir 239. In Mandera, Arabia sub-county received only 10, Ashabito 12 and Mandera Central 56. These figures highlight the challenge of staffing schools in sparsely populated and hard-to-reach areas that continue to face teacher shortages.
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Nairobi also received a notable allocation of 685 across its sub-counties. While the total was moderate compared to the top ranking counties, the vacancies will help schools struggling with high enrolment in the capital’s urban setting.
In general, the distribution shows that counties with higher population density and larger numbers of schools received the biggest allocations, with Western and Nyanza emerging at the top while arid counties such as Isiolo and Lamu recorded the lowest. According to KNUT’s Secretary General Collins Oyuu, the distribution is a positive step toward reducing teacher shortages, but, as he explained, “the government must ensure that these interns are not left hanging and are later absorbed into permanent and pensionable terms.” His remarks underscored the importance of turning short-term interventions into long-term solutions.
The recruitment therefore reflects an effort to balance needs across regions, giving both populous and sparsely populated counties allocations that match their circumstances and pointing to a broader strategy to reduce teacher shortages nationwide.
By Benedict Aoya
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