Elizabeth Akirapa, a qualified primary school teacher from Busia County, has been waiting for a placement in Kenya's public education system since 2017. Despite holding all the required qualifications and documentation, she has yet to secure a single teaching post through the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). Her situation was shared publicly on Facebook on September 25, 2026, by Duke Joseph, drawing attention to the quiet struggles of qualified teachers who remain unemployed.
What makes Elizabeth's situation particularly striking is the personal hardship she overcame to reach this point. She lost both her parents while still young, navigating childhood and education without the support most take for granted. Rather than abandon her studies, she pressed on until she earned her teaching qualification, a milestone that represented years of sacrifice and determination.
Now married and settled in Teso North, Elizabeth has spent nearly a decade holding onto the hope that the TSC would eventually call her name. With retirement age drawing closer, her appeal is both urgent and measured. She is not demanding special treatment; her request is simply that the commission consider her for employment if she meets the applicable recruitment criteria and vacancies exist.
The TSC recruits teachers periodically based on available vacancies and budgetary allocations from the national government. For teachers who trained years ago and have been waiting in the queue, each recruitment cycle that passes without their name on the list is another year closer to disqualification by age. This has left many like Elizabeth in a state of limbo, unsure of when they will get a chance to teach.
For Elizabeth, teaching was never merely a career option; it was a calling she worked extraordinarily hard to answer. The chance to stand in front of a classroom and shape the lives of Kenyan children, even for a few years before retirement, is what she is asking for. Her case raises broader questions about the gap between the number of qualified teachers Kenya produces and the absorption capacity of the public school system.
Elizabeth's story highlights the challenges faced by qualified teachers in Kenya's public education system. Despite having the necessary qualifications, many teachers struggle to secure employment. The TSC's recruitment process, which is based on available vacancies and budgetary allocations, can be unpredictable and leave qualified teachers waiting for years.
As Elizabeth's appeal continues to garner attention, it remains to be seen whether the TSC will consider her application. Her story serves as a reminder of the importance of providing opportunities for qualified teachers to contribute to Kenya's education system. The TSC's response to her appeal will be closely watched by many who are eager to see if it will make a difference for teachers like Elizabeth.
Key points
- A Kenyan teacher with a P1 qualification since 2017 is appealing to the Teachers Service Commission for a job after waiting for 9 years.
- The teacher, Elizabeth Akirapa, overcame personal hardships, including the loss of both parents, to earn her teaching qualification.
- Her case highlights the challenges faced by qualified teachers in Kenya's public education system, where many struggle to secure employment despite having the necessary qualifications.
