A section of Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers from Murang’a County yesterday, held protests to pressurize the national government to confirm approximately 20,000 interns to permanent and pensionable terms.
The teachers, who were joined by local politicians and activists during demonstrations in Gatanga Constituency expressed frustrations over delays by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) in issuing their confirmation letters.
The interns were recruited in November 2024 and deployed to schools in January this year on a one-year contract set to expire in December.
They lamented that the monthly stipend of Sh17,000 was insufficient to meet basic needs, particularly for those stationed in urban areas where the cost of living was very high.
The teachers said the low pay had also affected their social standing, with some claiming they were losing respect in their communities because they could not afford the quality of life traditionally associated with the teaching profession.
They demanded clarity from the government on whether funds had been allocated for their confirmation and called on TSC to provide specific timelines for the implementation of their employment.
Bryan Mobisa, one of the interns, described the stipend as “peanuts,” saying the financial strain had taken a toll on their mental health and work performance. “We are barely able to meet our needs at home. Our relationships are also strained,” Mobisa said.
“We urge the government to confirm us so that we can live decently and deliver effectively in class,” he added.
Mobisa also faulted the government for failing to allocate funds in the 2025/2026 financial year’s budget to confirm the interns.
Another teacher, Erick Okumu, said they were living under constant stress and uncertainty. “We stand here with a lot of stress and anxiety because we don’t know what our tomorrow holds,” he said questioning: “How can a teacher survive on Sh17,000 without medical cover, house allowance, or commuter allowance?”
Okumu added that the profession comes with costs such as maintaining decent clothing and footwear, which most of them can no longer afford.
The teachers said their protest was prompted by what they termed as mixed signals from top government officials regarding their employment status, creating uncertainty among thousands of JSS interns across the country.
Newton Njuguna, another intern, urged TSC to expedite the confirmation process, warning that continued delay was fueling anxiety among teachers.
He said some education officers, including Curriculum Support Officers (CSOs) and Sub-County Directors, had hinted that the internship contracts might be renewed for another year, and in some cases, had already outlined requirements for renewal.
Meanwhile, Evaline Mose, also a JSS teacher, called for autonomy for the junior secondary sector. She argued that the government’s decision to domicile JSS within primary schools had led to confusion in administration, sports, and co-curricular activities.
She noted that full autonomy would enhance both curricular and co-curricular programs tailored to learners’ needs, adding that instances of hostility between JSS teachers and primary school heads were already affecting the quality of education.
By Purity Mugo
