The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has shortlisted five candidates for its top job, Commission Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, and acting CEO Evaleen Mitei is among them. The shortlist moves the commission closer to ending more than a year of uncertainty over who will permanently lead it.

In a notice issued on Tuesday, the commission said it received 124 applications after it reopened recruitment for the post Nancy Macharia left in June 2025.

The five candidates

The selection panel will interview the candidates one after another on Monday, 16 November 2026, at TSC headquarters in Upper Hill, Nairobi:

  • 9am: Cheptumo Ayabei (Baringo), TSC Director of Finance
  • 10am: Evaleen Mitei (Uasin Gishu), acting Commission Secretary and CEO
  • 11am: Robert Odette (Migori)
  • Noon: Lawrence Kaburu (Tharaka-Nithi), Director of Health Revenue at the county government
  • 1pm: Farah Abdi Saman (Mandera), a county executive in Wajir

According to The Standard, Mitei began teaching in 1994 and joined the TSC secretariat in 1999. She rose through staffing, human resources and teacher discipline management before taking up the acting role. She holds an education degree from Moi University and a master's in human resource management from the University of Manchester. Ayabei has been the commission's finance director since 2009. Saman is a former teacher and principal in Mandera who later held senior posts in Wajir County.

Why the process restarted

The fresh exercise follows a 17 September ruling in which the High Court nullified the first recruitment. The judges found that the original advertisement gave applicants only 13 days to apply, while the commission's own human resource rules require at least 14. They also faulted TSC for not stating the salary.

The court upheld the legal requirement that candidates hold a degree in education and have at least 10 years of relevant experience, including five in senior management.

TSC re-advertised the job on 29 September, and applications closed on 30 October. The post carries a five-year term that can be renewed once and a gross monthly salary of Sh698,600, plus a mortgage facility of up to Sh30 million and other allowances.

Public asked to weigh in

Shortlisted candidates must present clearance from KRA, HELB, the DCI, the EACC and a credit reference bureau. The commission has also invited members of the public with credible information about any of the five to submit it by sworn affidavit, delivered to its headquarters or by email, by Friday, 13 November.

The winning candidate will head the secretariat that runs teacher recruitment, promotions and discipline across the country.

Photos: Kenyans.co.ke (TSC headquarters); Kelvin Karani, The Standard (Evaleen Mitei). Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.