TSC releases shortlist of candidates

The race to replace three commissioners at the teachers' employer has narrowed down to 24 applicants.

The shortlisted candidates include a sitting vice-chancellor of a private university, retired Ministry of Education officials, a regional director at the ministry and senior Teachers Service Commission (TSC) officers.

Prof Maurice Amutabi, Flora Maghanga, Cleopas Ondieki, Leila Abdi, Florence Wanjiku, Mary Rotich, Adow Mohammed, Dorothy Kimeu, Lilian Wachira, Gituro Wainaina, Boniface Imbali and Mohamud Kasai are some of the candidates who have been invited for the interview.

Others are Margaret Lesuuda, Pius Nduati, Stephen Nthiga, Mbage Ng’ang’a, Mukulu Kariuki, Amina Hassan, William Kibowen, Mohamed Mwinyipembe, Abdikadir Kike, Isaaac Gathirwa, Selesa Abudo and Benard Kurgat.

Interviews will start on Monday next week and end on Wednesday, according to TSC selection panel.

Three successful candidates will replace commissioners Cleophas Tirop, Salome Gichura and Saadia Kontoma who exited TSC after their six-year term ended.

Sources say the major factors to be considered in the selection are regional balance, gender and persons with disabilities.

Other critical factors will be categories of minorities and the marginalised.

Tirop is from Rift Valley, Dr Gichura is from Central region and Dr Saadia comes from North-Eastern region.

Analysis of the candidates by region points to the fact that regional balance will be a critical factor during the interviews.

Biggest number

Rift Valley has five applicants, being the biggest number. Central and North Eastern regions have four applicants each with three from Eastern. Western, Coast and Nyanza regions have two candidates each.

However, some of the regions with applications already have representation among the present commissioners.

The sitting commissioners at TSC are Beatrice Adu (Nyanza/Coast), Mbarak Twahir (Coast), Kinoti Imanyara (Eastern), Tache Gollo (Eastern) and Albert Ekirapa (Western).

The current chairperson Dr Lydia Nzomo represents Eastern region.

The Standard has established that regions presently represented by the current commissioners are likely to score fewer points.

In a paid advert, TSC selection panel chaired by Prof John Munene asked Kenyans to present memorandums on the 24 candidates to reach them by Friday this week.

In addition to their academic papers, all the candidates are expected to present clearance certificates from the Kenya Revenue Authority, Higher Education Loans Board, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Credit Reference Bureau and Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

The panel is looking for Kenyans who hold a degree from a recognised university. They must be knowledgeable and experienced in matters education, governance, management and law.

TSC Act requires that within five days after receiving the applications, the panel shortlists and interview the applicants.

After the interviews, the panel forwards names of the successful applicants to the president, who within seven days of receipt of the names will forward them to the National Assembly for approval or rejection.

Other members of the selection committee are Dr Mary Gaturu, director of quality assurance and Standards at the Ministry of Education. She represents Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha in the panel.