A growing number of Kenyan teachers are voicing frustration over prolonged stagnation in their careers, particularly those holding diploma qualifications.
Teachers in primary schools, Junior Secondary Schools (JSS), and Senior Secondary (SS) say they are being left behind in promotions despite years—if not decades—of service.
Many have taken to social media and public forums to highlight their struggles, questioning the fairness of the recent promotion processes overseen by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
One teacher going by the name luopeeen lamented the case of her sister, who has been in the profession since 2009 but remains at job group C1.
“She wasn’t successful in the recently concluded promotion interviews. Yet others who graduated much later have moved up to C2. How is that fair?” she asked.Another teacher, who has been serving since 1985 and plans to retire this July, shared a similar sentiment.
“I’ve gone through college, KISE, and KU. I’ve held the position of senior teacher since 2009, but I never moved beyond that. My advice to the younger generation—choose other careers, not teaching in Kenya.”Others cited being stuck in the same job group since the 1990s.
"I was employed in 1994 and I'm still in C1. It's simply unfair," one teacher said.The complaints point to a broader concern over what many see as a lack of transparency and fairness in teacher promotions.
Diploma holders, in particular, say they feel sidelined in favor of degree-holding colleagues, even when they have significantly more experience.
As retirement looms for many who feel their efforts have gone unrewarded, there are renewed calls for the TSC to review its promotion criteria and ensure a more equitable advancement process for all teachers.
