Nancy Macharia: The Incompetence Behind TSC’s Broken Job Portal

Nancy Macharia’s tenure as the head of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has been nothing short of a disaster, defined by a blatant disregard for transparency, accountability, and the welfare of Kenyan teachers.

The latest fiasco—a completely dysfunctional job portal that locked out over 46,000 qualified applicants—perfectly exemplifies her consistent incompetence.

The TSC’s claim that “technical challenges” prevented teachers from accessing the recruitment portal during a critical mass hiring phase is an unacceptable excuse.

Dr. Nancy Macharia and Her History of Failures

Nancy Macharia’s tenure as TSC boss has been plagued by scandal after scandal. Under her watch, the commission has collapsed into disarray, marked by constant incompetence and corruption.

She dismantled the once-powerful Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), introduced questionable insurance schemes that left teachers shortchanged, and allowed UDA MPs to distribute employment letters at political rallies.

Now, she has added another failure to her record—a recruitment portal that fails to function. Instead of taking accountability, Macharia offered a hollow apology, citing technical issues.

This excuse falls flat. If she managed the commission effectively, such problems would not exist.

The technical failure has effectively blocked teachers from applying for jobs they desperately need, while TSC’s leadership continues to sit idle.

Corruption Under Macharia

The failure of the recruitment portal is not just an isolated case. It reflects systemic problems within TSC.

A 2023 report from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) highlighted the rot within TSC under Macharia’s leadership.

The report indicated that many service seekers had to pay bribes to get services, especially when obtaining a TSC number. This practice of monetizing services is unacceptable, and Macharia has allowed it to flourish under her tenure.

Nancy Macharia remains in her position despite surpassing the retirement age. Her controversial term extension is yet another example of how corruption thrives under her leadership.

Instead of stepping aside for new and competent leadership, Macharia continues to cling to her position. Her continued presence at TSC is a symbol of how deeply entrenched incompetence has become in the commission.

Time for a Fresh Start

Nancy Macharia’s tenure at TSC must end. The commission needs fresh leadership—someone committed to transparency, integrity, and teachers’ welfare.

The broken job portal is a glaring reminder that Nancy Macharia’s leadership has failed. As she prepares to go on terminal leave in March 2024, Kenya’s teachers need hope.

They need a leader who will restore faith in TSC and create a fair recruitment process. The time for excuses is over. Nancy Macharia must be held accountable for her failures.

The new leadership must fix the damage she caused and prioritize educators. It’s time for change at the Teachers Service Commission, and the sooner, the better.