Shocker for headteachers as TSC begins massive transfer

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has begun a massive transfer of principals and head teachers in schools across the country, in an exercise aimed at promoting national cohesion and enhancing professionalism in the teaching profession.

While TSC is yet to issue the number of the transferred teachers, the school heads set to be affected by the transfer are those posted in their home counties and those who have served in the same school for over nine years.

During the official opening of the 13th annual Kenya Primary School Head Teachers Association on December 5, 2017, TSC announced a raft of measures that would see the Education sector come under radical change.

“Through this new move, we will not be allowing head teachers and principals to serve in their home counties or be in one school for more than nine years,” said TSC Chief Executive Nancy Macharia

TSC said the transfers would help address issues of conflict of interest, that arise from teachers serving in their local areas for many years.

Deputy headteachers and deputy principals shall not serve in the same institution for more than six years, the TSC boss said.

At the conference, Ms Macharia also announced that come next year, secondary school principals and their deputies will be required to have a Master’s degree, while Primary school head teachers and their deputies will also be required to have a minimum of a first degree in education.

Ten secondary school principals have been transferred in Kisii in line with the new administration policies.

Kisii County TSC Director Nimrod Kimathi said the changes targeted national and extra county schools, adding that the reforms would also be effected in county and sub-county schools so that no principal works within his or her home county.

The director said in the changes, all the affected teachers were transferred to schools that are an equivalent of the ones they were heading.

Here are the school heads who have been transferred in Kisii.

St. Charles Lwanga Ichuni Girls Principal, Joyce Orioki, is now the new principal of Nyabururu Girls’ National School. She will be replaced by Mary Lucy Obondo from Siaya.

• Kereri Girls Principal Esther Ong’ondi has been moved to Migori County and her place will be taken by Teresa Atieno Otieno from Migori.
• Emily Mokeira of St. Peters Suneka has been transferred to Busia County and her place taken by Rosemary Abuodha Omogo from Siaya County.
• Nyabigena Boys Principal Nicodemus Ogeto has been moved to Bungoma County and has been replaced by Mathew Simiyu from Bungoma County.
• Clement Nyang’acha of Sameta Boys has been moved to Siaya county and his place taken by Kenas Rakiro Ochieng from Migori County.
• Richard Sangutet from Bomet County is the new principal of Moi Gesusu high schools taking over from Ochora Mbute, who has been moved to Bomet County.
• Cardinal Otunga principal Zachary Nyariki has been moved to Bungoma county and his place taken by Munyendo Dennis from Kakamega County.
• Carolyne Atieno from Migori County is the new principal of Ramoya Hill Girls. The school has been without a principal after the principal who was in the school was interdicted.
• Alice Adhiambo from Migori County is the new principal of Nyamagesa Secondary. The school has also been operating without a principal.

In Murang’a county, Mugoiri Girls Principal Ms Veronica Waweru has been moved to Muthare Girls in Kitui County.

• The long serving Principal at St Catherine Gaturi Girls Principal, Mrs. Joan Muchina, heads to Mwaani Girls High school in Wote.
• Gitugi Girls High school Principal, Ms Esther Njambi proceeds to Kiine Girls in the neighbouring Kirinyaga County taking over from the former who joined politics after she was nominated to the Nyeri County Assembly.
•  Githunguri Girls High School Principal Lilian Muhuni, a sister to TSC Chief Executive Officer Ms Nancy Macharia, heads to Kabare Girls in Kirinyaga County in the same capacity.
• The long serving principal at Kirogo Boys Secondary School, Mr Allan Macharia, proceeds to Siakago boys High School.
• Njumbi High School head Edward Waititu heads to Othaya Boys and will be replaced by Chinga Boys High Principal.
• Weithaga Boys Principal J.K Karanja moves to Kanjuri High school in Mathira Sub-county.
• The long serving, Mr Kagema Kibue of Karega Secondary School in Kigumo moves to St. Joseph Githunguri in Kiambu county.