Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has acknowledged that Kilifi County and other remote regions in Kenya continue to face severe teacher shortages, with many government teaching positions remaining unfilled due to challenging living conditions and security concerns.

Speaking on a local TV on Tuesday, Ogamba explained that many teachers are reluctant to apply for positions in these areas because of the difficult circumstances.

“In fact, there are instances where teachers do not even apply to be employed to come into this particular area,” he said.

Despite the government’s efforts to address the shortage by employing 76,000 teachers in recent years and planning to recruit an additional 24,000 by December 2025, the problem persists in regions considered difficult to work in.

Ogamba noted that the government is considering absorbing teachers already employed by Boards of Management (BOMs) into the Teacher Service Commission (TSC) to ensure that schools in hardship areas have enough qualified staff. He emphasised that the government is rationalising teacher deployment to balance numbers across counties.

The shortage comes amid ongoing education reforms targeting junior school education. Ogamba stated that these reforms, combined with the rationalisation of teacher deployment, are designed to improve access to quality education nationwide.

“Where we find that perhaps certain teachers are more in one area and less in another, we can deploy and ensure that we have covered that shortfall,” he added.

Before 2022, Kenya recruited about 5,000 teachers annually, but under this government, 76,000 teachers have been hired. By December, the total is expected to reach 100,000, representing nearly a third of all teachers employed since independence.

The teacher shortage is partly linked to security concerns in certain regions. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced plans to arm chiefs and assistant chiefs in terror-prone areas, including Mandera, before December 2025.

The initiative aims to protect local administrators from extremist groups and security threats. Chiefs who require training will be trained in firearm use, while others will receive weapons immediately. Murkomen also highlighted the government’s efforts to maintain peace along Kenya’s borders with Ethiopia and Somalia. He said patrols, community engagement, and recruitment of National Police Reservists will strengthen security in these areas.

Public schools in Kilifi County are struggling with overcrowded classrooms and disrupted learning due to the teacher shortage. Principals and education stakeholders warn that without urgent intervention, learners will continue to face challenges in accessing quality education.

The shortage has also sparked debates over hardship allowances, with some teachers taking legal action against reductions or removal of the benefits. Lawmakers have criticised the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for allegedly mishandling hardship allowances, which affects teacher morale and willingness to accept postings in remote areas.

The TSC plans to recruit 24,000 new teachers by December 2025 to help fill the gaps, particularly in hardship regions. Additionally, the government is working on security measures to protect teachers, including enhanced patrols and community engagement in high-risk areas.