Kenya’s teachers’ regulator has struck 15 educators off its register over misconduct, warning schools against employing them or risk facing stiff penalties.

In a gazette notice issued on 19 September, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) said the affected teachers were barred from working in any public or private institution.

Eveleen Mitei, the commission’s chief executive, said the decision was made under Section 30 of the TSC Act, which allows the regulator to remove teachers from the roll for professional breaches.

“The Commission wishes to notify the public that the persons whose names are specified in the schedule herein below have been removed from the Register of Teachers,” Ms Mitei wrote. She added that reinstatement would only be possible with explicit approval from the commission.

Heavy Sanctions for Schools

TSC cautioned head teachers and boards of management against flouting the directive. Any school that hires a deregistered teacher, the commission said, risks a fine of at least 100,000 shillings, a jail term of up to two years for the head, or both.

“Any person who employs in any school a person not being a registered teacher shall be guilty of an offence,” the notice read.

Widening Misconduct Cases

The move comes against a backdrop of rising cases of misconduct in schools. TSC’s Director of Legal, Labour and Industrial Relations, Cavin Anyuor, told the Senate Education Committee last week that 111 complaints had been received since January 2024.

Of these, 69 teachers were dismissed and deregistered, mainly over sexual misconduct and inappropriate behaviour with learners. Nine were dismissed but not deregistered, 25 suspended with a chance of reinstatement, and one intern removed from the register. Four were cleared after investigations, while three cases were dropped following the death of the accused before their hearings.

Over the past five years, Mr Anyuor said, 470 teachers have been deregistered for various offences.

A Message of Accountability

The latest deregistration highlights the commission’s effort to hold teachers to higher standards of conduct. For parents and learners, the TSC argues, the message is clear: misconduct will not be tolerated, and schools must not turn a blind eye.