The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has sharply criticised the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for what it describes as a persistent failure to promote thousands of educators who have remained stuck in the same job group for more than a decade.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, August 11, KUPPET Secretary General Akello Misori accused the commission of neglecting its duty to reward long-serving teachers, urging it to adopt a promotion framework similar to that recently introduced by the National Police Service (NPS).

Misori noted that the NPS had taken a decisive step by announcing automatic promotions for police officers who have stagnated in one rank for many years, a move he said TSC should replicate for the teaching fraternity.

“We commend the National Police Service for announcing promotions for police officers who have been stuck in a single job group for more than 10 years,” Misori stated.

“Under this new policy, police officers will be promoted without the declaration of vacancies or interviews. Teachers who have served diligently and are already qualified should enjoy the same benefit.”

According to the union leader, the idea that long-serving teachers must still compete for promotions through advertised vacancies and interviews is not only unfair but also demoralising to the profession.

KUPPET’s Deputy Secretary General, Moses Nthurima, echoed these sentiments, terming the stagnation in teacher promotions “blatantly discriminatory” and a sign of TSC’s unwillingness to address systemic problems in the education sector.

“When a government singles out a sector for employment and rewards them with summary promotion, it raises questions,” Nthurima said.

“We applaud the promotion of police officers who have served in one job group for over 10 years, but what about teachers? Why are we excluded from similar consideration?”

The remarks come just days after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced sweeping changes to the police promotion policy. The NPS has now lowered the automatic promotion age for long-serving officers from 53 to 50 years.

Under the revised guidelines, a police officer who has served as a constable, corporal, or sergeant for more than 15 years and has reached the age of 50 will be promoted without going through the usual competitive process. Similarly, inspectors who have been in their position for over a decade and have also reached the age of 50 will be elevated automatically.

Murkomen explained that the changes are designed to reward loyalty and long service while addressing career stagnation within the police force. He added that the ministry will also implement additional measures to ensure officers are transferred more frequently, preventing prolonged postings in one location.

“Previously, the promotional age for corporals was set at 53 years and above,” Murkomen said.

“However, the promotion board met and agreed that if a police officer is 50 years old and has served as a constable, corporal, or sergeant for more than 15 years, they will be promoted. Inspectors who have held their rank for over 10 years will also benefit from automatic promotions.”

KUPPET has now called on TSC to follow suit, stressing that teachers, who play a central role in shaping Kenya’s human capital, deserve equal recognition for their years of dedicated service. The union maintains that without such changes, the morale and motivation of educators will continue to decline, ultimately impacting the quality of education in the country.