By Erestinah Jane, June 29, 2026
Classroom teachers drawn from the Nairobi Cosmopolitan Hub have called on President William Ruto and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Board to formally confirm Evaleen Mitei as the Commission’s substantive Chief Executive Officer, citing her leadership and reforms during the year she has served in an acting capacity.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, the teachers said Mitei has demonstrated the competence, integrity and administrative experience required to lead the Commission permanently following the retirement of former CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia in June 2025.
The teachers argued that under Mitei’s stewardship, the Commission has made significant progress in improving teacher welfare, streamlining human resource management and strengthening service delivery across the education sector.
Among the achievements highlighted was the promotion of more than 30,000 teachers across various job groups, a move they said has boosted staff morale and recognized years of professional service.
They also credited Mitei with overseeing the transition of approximately 20,000 intern teachers into permanent and pensionable employment, describing the move as a major milestone in addressing staffing shortages in public schools.
The Nairobi Cosmopolitan Hub further praised the acting CEO for ensuring teacher deployments and transfers are conducted strictly in accordance with TSC regulations, saying the approach has helped shield teachers from political interference and undue external influence.
According to the teachers, the Commission has maintained professionalism in handling postings, transfers and promotions, ensuring decisions are guided by policy rather than political considerations.
They also commended Mitei’s efforts to promote gender inclusivity within the teaching service, noting that staffing policies implemented during her tenure have contributed to achieving a near-balanced workforce, with women accounting for 51 per cent of teachers compared to 49 per cent for men.
The teachers further pointed to the digitisation of teacher recruitment processes, saying the reforms have significantly reduced cases of fraud and the illegal sale of TSC employment opportunities by ensuring recruitment is conducted transparently and on merit.
They added that the acting CEO has also spearheaded efforts to identify and correct payroll anomalies within the government’s Integrated Personnel and Payroll Database (IPPD), helping eliminate persistent salary-related challenges that had affected some teachers.
Mitei brings more than three decades of experience in the education sector, having begun her career as a classroom teacher in 1994 before joining the TSC Secretariat in 1999.
She steadily rose through the ranks and most recently served as Director of Teacher Discipline Management before being appointed acting Chief Executive Officer on June 1, 2025.
She holds a Bachelor of Education degree from Moi University and a Master of Science in Human Resource Management from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom.
The calls for her confirmation come as the recruitment process for a substantive TSC Chief Executive Officer remains stalled following a series of legal challenges that have delayed the appointment of a successor to Dr. Macharia.
The teachers urged the TSC Board to expedite the process and formally appoint Mitei, arguing that continuity in leadership would enable the Commission to sustain ongoing reforms and maintain stability within the country’s teaching service.
