Debate on Teachers Service Commission nominees splits Parliament down the middle

By ALPHONCE SHIUNDU

KENYA: Chaos reigned as MPs argued over whether to adopt a report of the Education Committee that rejected President Uhuru Kenyatta’s nominees to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). 

While some MPs wanted the nominees adopted, others pushed for the nominees to be rejected just as the committee had recommended. The chairperson of the Education Committee Sabina Chege initiated debate on the matter, and was seconded by Jared Odhiambo (Awendo).

They called on the House to reject the nominees, have the job of TSC commissioners advertised afresh and new names brought to the House. In the end, the MPs failed to take a decision on the matter, and postponed it to today (Thursday).

“If the process was flawed, then the product will be flawed,” said Mithika Linturi (Igembe South MP). Some legislators wanted the debating hours to be extended so that the nominees are picked as soon as possible, but others said there was no hurry.

Linturi said there was a lot of lobbying going on behind the scenes to have the rejected names approved by the House. “There has been a lot of lobbying on this matter...It will be very wrong for me to disagree with a committee that has come with a unanimous decision,” said Linturi.

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