TSC Shortlists Five Candidates for CEO Position as Evaleen Mitei Makes the List
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has shortlisted five candidates for interviews to fill the position of Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, with acting CEO Evaleen Mitei among those selected.
In a recruitment notice issued on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, the commission announced that it had received 124 applications following a fresh recruitment exercise to replace former CEO Nancy Macharia, who left office in June 2025.
The shortlisted applicants will appear before the selection panel on Monday, November 16, 2026, at the commission’s headquarters in Upper Hill, Nairobi.
Other candidates selected alongside Mitei include Farah Abdi Saman from Mandera, Cheptumo Ayabei from Baringo, Robert Odette from Migori and Lawrence Kaburu, the Director of Health Revenue for Tharaka-Nithi County.
The recruitment marks another stage in the process of appointing a substantive head to oversee the commission’s operations and implementation of its mandate.
Full List of TSC CEO Shortlisted Candidates and Interview Schedule
According to the commission’s notice, the five candidates will appear before the selection panel at different times on November 16.
The interview programme is as follows:
| Candidate | Interview time |
|---|---|
| Cheptumo Ayabei | 9:00 am |
| Evaleen Mitei | 10:00 am |
| Robert Odette | 11:00 am |
| Lawrence Kaburu | 12:00 noon |
| Farah Abdi Saman | 1:00 pm |
The interviews will take place at the TSC headquarters in Upper Hill, Nairobi.
Members of the public and other interested parties can submit relevant information concerning the shortlisted applicants before the scheduled interviews.
Documents Required During TSC CEO Interviews
TSC has directed all shortlisted candidates to present original identification and academic documents during the interview process.
Applicants are also expected to provide clearance certificates and supporting documents from various government agencies and professional institutions.
The required documentation includes:
- Original national identification documents.
- Original academic and professional certificates.
- Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) tax compliance clearance.
- Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) clearance.
- Clearance from a registered Credit Reference Bureau.
- Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) clearance.
- Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) self-declaration forms.
- Other relevant supporting documents.
The requirements are intended to facilitate verification of candidates’ academic qualifications, professional backgrounds and compliance with applicable public service requirements.
TSC Invites Public Views on Shortlisted Candidates
The commission has also opened an opportunity for members of the public to submit information concerning the five shortlisted applicants.
According to the recruitment notice, individuals with credible information about any candidate should submit it through sworn affidavits.
The submissions can be delivered physically to the TSC headquarters in Upper Hill or sent through the commission’s designated email channel.
The deadline for receiving public submissions is Friday, November 13, 2026, three days before the scheduled interviews.
The exercise provides an opportunity for relevant information about the applicants to be considered during the recruitment process.
Why TSC Restarted the CEO Recruitment Exercise
The latest shortlist follows a fresh recruitment process after the High Court nullified an earlier exercise over procedural irregularities.
In a ruling delivered on September 17, 2026, the court found that the initial recruitment advertisement had given interested applicants only 13 days to submit their applications.
This fell short of the minimum 14-day application period required under the commission’s human resource guidelines.
The court also raised concerns over the failure to indicate the proposed salary for the position in the initial advertisement.
Consequently, the recruitment process was ordered to begin afresh to address the identified procedural shortcomings.
TSC subsequently issued a new advertisement on September 29, inviting qualified Kenyans to apply for the vacant position.
Applications remained open until October 30, 2026.
Qualifications Required for the TSC CEO Position
Under the fresh recruitment advertisement, applicants were required to possess a degree in education and at least 10 years of relevant professional experience.
Candidates were also expected to demonstrate a minimum of five years’ experience in senior management.
The requirements reflect the responsibilities attached to the position, which include overseeing the commission’s secretariat, managing staff and coordinating the implementation of its constitutional mandate.
The successful candidate will serve an initial five-year term, with the possibility of one additional five-year appointment, subject to the applicable requirements.
TSC CEO Salary and Benefits: How Much Will the Successful Candidate Earn?
The position of TSC Secretary and Chief Executive Officer comes with a gross monthly salary of KSh698,600, according to the recruitment advertisement.
The successful applicant will also be entitled to several employment benefits, including:
- Gross monthly salary: KSh698,600.
- Mortgage facility: Up to KSh30 million.
- Monthly airtime allowance: KSh15,000.
- Annual leave allowance: KSh50,000.
The salary and benefits package makes the position one of the senior public service appointments within Kenya’s education sector.
What Happens After the TSC CEO Interviews?
Following the November 16 interviews, the selection panel will proceed with the next stages of the recruitment process in accordance with the applicable legal and administrative requirements.
The successful candidate will take over the leadership of the commission’s secretariat and oversee its daily operations.
The appointment will also come at an important time for Kenya’s education sector, with TSC continuing to handle teacher recruitment, deployment, professional development, remuneration and other employment matters affecting teachers across the country.
The commission is expected to communicate further details about the recruitment process through its official channels.
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