From Internship to Permanency: Teacher’s Journey Reflects Kenya’s New Era of Opportunity in Education

Timothy Omari, a Science teacher at Thika Road Comprehensive School in Kiambu County, recounts the joy and excitement of receiving his TSC permanent and pensionable appointment letter after serving as an intern.

Kiambu, Kenya – When Timothy Charan Omari steps into his classroom at Thika Road Comprehensive School, his presence carries more than a science lesson it carries the story of resilience, passion, and renewed hope.

For years, Omari’s dream of becoming a teacher seemed unreachable. After graduating in 2019, he spent years doing odd jobs and running small businesses to survive, all while applying tirelessly for teaching positions. His persistence finally paid off in January 2025 when a long-awaited letter from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) confirmed his permanent and pensionable appointment.

“After my graduation, I did a few hustles and even took up an internship in 2023. What I love most about being a teacher is transforming a life for the better,” he says.

Omari’s path to teaching was not straightforward. Initially, he pursued accounting under pressure to find financial stability. But the pull toward education proved stronger.

“Parents sometimes push you toward a career because they see money in it. But teaching is where my heart belongs,” he reflects.

Now, standing before his students, Omari feels he has found his purpose. He applauds the government’s rapid teacher recruitment, which has eased workloads and improved classroom engagement. “When I started, teachers had up to 40 lessons a week. Today, it’s down to about 32. That balance gives us time to assess learners and focus on quality teaching,” he notes.

His story mirrors that of thousands of Kenyan teachers whose years of uncertainty have ended thanks to TSC’s record-breaking recruitment. In just two and a half years, 76,000 new teachers have been hired a milestone that once took decades to achieve.

President William Ruto has described the education reforms as central to Kenya’s long-term growth, noting that the education budget has risen from Sh540 billion to Sh702 billion in three years. “Teachers spend extra hours shaping the destiny of our children. The nation is indebted to their service,” he affirmed.

Acting TSC CEO Evaleen Mitei confirmed that recruitment has been digitized to ensure transparency, with an additional 24,000 teachers set to be employed by January 2026.

For teachers like Omari, the reforms have brought renewed dignity and direction. “Now I can focus fully on shaping young minds,” he says, his voice filled with gratitude. Yet, as many others continue to wait for their breakthrough, the journey toward full employment in Kenya’s classrooms is far from over.