By Augustine Oduor

NAIROBI, KENYA: Members of Parliament have raised a red flag over the impending appointment of Teachers Service Commission (TSC) officials by President Kibaki.

They said the House will not pass names proposed by the selection panel if they do not reflect regional and ethnic balance.

The legislators also questioned why the panel chaired by educationist James Kamunge only advertised four positions instead of nine, as required under the TSC Act.

Speaking to the Press on Wednesday, House Committee on Education Science and Technology asked President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to ensure the legal provisions under the TSC Act are adhered to before any appointment is effected.

“We are asking them to ensure Article 10 and Article 250(4) of the Constitution were complied with,” said committee chairman David Koech.

The committee also questioned why the advertisement asked for applications from across the country when the selection panel?knew the regions that were to be filled.

“They should also know why advertisement was done for the whole country yet the panel was aware of the vacancies being in specific regions,” said Koech.

He asked the two principals to ascertain whether section 32 (2) of the sixth schedule of the Constitution and section 50 (1) and (2) of the TSC Act bars the panel from advertising the posts of the five commissioners currently in office.

Top positions

The House Committee members who addressed the Press at Parliament Buildings stressed that regional and ethnic balancing must be seen in the appointments by the president.

The Standard has established that the panel chaired by Kamunge has already forwarded the names to the Cabinet Secretary.

Several senior education officials were among the candidates interviewed to take up the top positions of the independent teachers commission.

Among those interviewed were Kenya Institute of Education director Lydia Nzomo for the chairperson’s position. The commission’s director of policy at the Ministry of Education, Kirago wa Magochi and Simon Kavisi of TSC?were also interviewed for the same position.

Other big names were Nairobi School Principal Cleopas Tirop to be member of the commission.

Meanwhile, the House Committee also asked the Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) to enforce the tough laws regarding examinations cheating.