The newspapers of Tuesday, November 25, published various information, including about the employment of teachers and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Source: UGC
Elsewhere, newspapers focused on the upcoming by-elections, which many believe will foreshadow the 2027 general election.
1. People Daily
This newspaper highlighted the Mbeere North by-election, which has attracted a lot of attention, while the former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua sending the area to strengthen the positions of the United Opposition against the government.
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According to Gideon Balang, IEBC’s Electoral Operations Manager, candidates can start campaigning as soon as they are confirmed by the Chief Electoral Officers, with campaign hours running daily from one in the morning to six in the evening before election day.
Balang said this when the commission confirmed that 181 candidates have been approved to compete in 24 constituencies.
North Mbeere has become a fierce battleground between the government and the opposition.
Although nine candidates are in the running after Geoffrey Ruku was appointed Public Service Minister earlier this year, competition remains between Leonard Wamuthende of the ruling UDA and Newton Kariuki of the Democratic Party (DP).
Kariuki, who was previously Muminji Ward MCA, resigned to run for parliament, a position that also includes Evrori and Nthawa wards.
Other contenders are:
- Reuben Muriithi (Alliance for Real Change)
- Lawrence Ireri (Safina Party)
- Daniel Ireri (One Kenya Movement)
- Pastor Isaac Ngiri (United Progressive Party)
- Albert Murimi (National Vision Party)
- Duncan Ireri (Labour Party)
- Simon Waiharo (Unity and Development)
The IEBC list shows that Mbeere North has 55,124 voters, while the 2019 census shows a population of 108,881.
Analysts see Kariuki and Wamuthende as the main candidates, while President William Ruto and his former deputy Gachagua are seen as key players.
For Ruto, UDA’s victory would strengthen his influence in the Mt Kenya area, while for Gachagua a victory for Kariuki would strengthen his position towards the 2027 election and strengthen the United Opposition’s presidential plans.
2. Daily Nation
The newspaper placed an advertisement about the recruitment of prospective teachers.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced 9,159 job vacancies to replace teachers who left work due to natural causes.
According to the announcement, the positions will be permanent and with pension benefits, which are:
- 7,065 for primary schools
- 12 for middle level schools (junior schools)
- 2,082 for secondary schools
“Employment seekers and graduates should submit their applications online through the Teachers Service Commission website before December 8, 2025, at midnight. Information about available vacancies for each county or school is available on the TSC website,” the ad said.
Last December, the commission announced 8,707 such vacancies, with preliminary figures showing that 8,018 teachers left the job between June 2022 and January 2023.
The latest reports showed 2,014 vacancies in May, with estimates showing that 10,245 teachers would leave the job in June.
The TSC explained that the current recruitment is aimed at strengthening the teaching situation in the school following the departure of teachers due to retirement, resignation or death.
Former TSC boss, Nancy Macharia, previously warned of a severe shortage of teachers, saying that middle and high schools needed 98,261 more teachers.
He added that the gap may increase further when senior secondary schools start in 2026, which will disrupt the implementation of the CBC curriculum.
“We need KSh 5 billion every year to promote teachers and ensure that no one is stuck in one position. We have more than 300,000 teachers who have received training but are unemployed. Our biggest problem is the budget. At the moment we only receive Sh1 billion, which can only employ 6,000 teachers,” he told the Education Committee of the National Assembly.
In addition to the announced positions, TSC plans to hire 24,000 interns in January next year to reduce the shortage, especially in junior and senior schools.
The contracts of the current group of 20,000 teacher trainees expire in December, raising concerns about a possible suspension of lessons.
3. Nation Today
National Today reported on the apparent political tension between the retired president Uhuru Kenyatta and DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua regarding the control of Mount Kenya politics, a tension that may continue for some time.
Uhuru leads the Jubilee party, which supports Fred Matiangi, while Gachagua insists that he has a voice in Mount Kenya politics.
“I don’t understand this Jubilee party. Maybe they will start to see what the opposition coalition stands for,” said Gachagua.
He was referring to the Narok Township by-election, where both the DCP and Jubilee parties have fielded candidates despite being under the umbrella of the opposition coalition.
“Look at this election, all the opposition parties have withdrawn their candidates to support Douglas Masikonde of DCP. Jubilee went ahead and nominated a candidate,” he added.
Gachagua said that despite Uhuru ordering Jubilee politicians to stop attacking him, the important thing is to understand how the opposition coalition will implement its policies.
“After they stopped attacking me, they are now targeting Kalonzo Musyoka, and they show no intention of opposing our enemy, who is President William Ruto. Most of the Jubilee politicians only criticize the opposition leaders,” said Gachagua.
4. The Standard
The Standard newspaper reported about the by-elections going on in various parts of the country.
Campaigns leading to the elections were officially closed on Monday, October 24, thus clearing the field for competition in some constituencies and wards.
The IEBC confirmed that elections will be held in Ugunja, Kasipul, Magarini, Mbeere North and Banisa areas, as well as a by-election for senator in Baringo County and 18 ward elections.
Commissioner Alutalala Mukhwana assured the voters that security has been strengthened, and officers in uniform and civilian ones have been deployed to ensure there is no violence, especially in areas that witnessed strong campaigns.
Attention has been directed to the areas of Mbeere North, Malava and Kasipul, where fierce competition between the government and the opposition has increased.
In Mbeere North, Deputy President Kithur Kindiki he supports Leonard Muthende of the UDA, while his predecessor, Rigathi Gachagua, supports Newton Karish of the DP party.
Public Service Minister Geoffrey Ruku and Embu Senator Alexander Mundigi accused the opposition of planning the violence, claiming youths from Nairobi would be transported to disrupt the election.
IEBC official John Kinyua noted that the 2022 voter register will be used, contradicting former Speaker Justin Muturi’s claim that the commission intended to use the 2017 register.
In Kasipul, ODM Chairperson Gladys Wanga encouraged the people to support Boyd Were, the son of the late former Member of Parliament Charles Ong’ondo, who is facing independent candidate Philip Aroko.
Aroko has garnered support from ODM detractors, including Oyugi Magwanga.
Meanwhile, in West Africa Kenya, DAP Kenya candidate Seth Panyako is fighting against UDA candidate David Ndakwa.
Ndakwa has received the blessings of senior leaders including Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Minister Wycliffe Oparanyaand Governor Fernandes Barasa.
In his last meeting in Malava, Mudavadi asked the residents to give Ndakwa victory, saying that the result would be a sign of support for President Ruto towards the 2027 elections.
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