The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has appointed Eveleen Mitei as its acting Chief Executive Officer, following the commencement of terminal leave by outgoing CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia. Mitei’s appointment was confirmed through an internal memo issued on June 1, 2025.
Mitei, who currently serves as the Deputy Head of the Human Resources Directorate in charge of the Human Resource Management Division, will serve in an interim capacity while the commission works through the process of naming a permanent successor.
Dr. Macharia, in her memo to staff, announced that she would officially begin her terminal leave on June 1, ahead of her retirement at the end of the month. Her exit marks the close of a decade-long tenure, making her the first woman to lead the commission since its inception in 1967.
“I am proceeding on terminal leave with effect from today, June 1, 2025, pending my retirement on June 30, 2025, after serving the Commission in various capacities,” she wrote. “In the meantime, note that the Commission has appointed Ms. Eveleen Mitei to act as the Commission Secretary/CEO pending the appointment of my successor. I urge you to accord her the necessary support.”
Dr. Macharia was first appointed CEO in 2015 and reappointed in 2020 for a second term. During her leadership, she championed several major reforms, including the digitisation of services, structured teacher promotions, and the rollout of continuous professional development for educators. Her tenure also oversaw the recruitment of thousands of teachers to support Kenya’s expanding public education sector.
However, the transition to new leadership is unfolding amid legal uncertainty. The Employment and Labour Relations Court in Mombasa recently halted the recruitment process following a petition challenging the constitutionality and fairness of the selection criteria used by the TSC. The case has paused what would have been the final stages of recruitment, including candidate interviews.
Despite the legal hiccup, several names have emerged as top contenders for the role. Among them is Dr. Reuben Nthamburi, the current Deputy CEO; Prof. Charles Ong’ondo, head of the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development; and Dr. Julius Jwan, former Principal Secretary for Basic Education.
Also mentioned are Dr. Lydia Nzomo, a respected former director at the TSC known for her strong advocacy for teachers, and Dr. Simon Gicharu, founder of Mount Kenya University.
As the commission awaits a resolution to the court challenge, Mitei is expected to steer operations and maintain stability within the institution at a time when the education sector is under pressure to deliver on key reforms, including the Competency-Based Curriculum rollout and equitable staffing in schools across the country.