The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has dismissed allegations that it has appointed a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to replace Nancy Macharia, whose tenure at the helm of the commission nears its end.
In a brief statement on Friday, February 21, the commission flagged a viral social media post claiming that TSC had appointed its Senior Deputy Director Ibrahim Gedi as Macharia’s replacement.
The fake post suggested that TSC had reportedly appointed Gedi as the new CEO of the commission in an acting capacity following Macharia’s retirement.
“TSC CEO Nancy Macharia retires. Ibrahim Gedi is the acting CEO,” read the post. However, while dismissing the allegations, the commission termed the reports as fake and warned Kenyans to be wary of such misleading information.
TSC was forced to clarify the matter after a section of social media users expressed concerns over the reports, with some calling on the commission to set the record straight.
Meanwhile, Nancy Macharia is set to retire in June this year after serving as the TSC boss for ten years. Macharia took office in June 2015 and was reappointed in 2020 for the second five-year term.
She took over from Gabriel Lengoibon, who retired in June 2015, with her appointment based on a competitive recruitment process that began on May 1 of the same year.
While serving at the helm of the commission, Macharia's tenure has been marked by praises and controversy, including allegations of non-promotion of some teachers to mass transfers.
Besides job stagnations and mass transfers, during her tenure, Macharia also came under strong criticism for allegedly adopting unfavourable policies, which is said to have prompted a fallout between TSC and the teachers’ unions.
Born in 1963, Macharia is the ninth TSC CEO, and she is also the first female to lead the commission since its establishment in 1967 through an Act of Parliament.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Education (English Literature) from Kenyatta University and a master's degree in Education (Policy Management) from Bristol University in the United Kingdom.
Before landing the top role, Macharia worked as a teacher at Kahuhia Girls Secondary School in Muranga County, her first job. She rose through the ranks to become a head teacher at Kianderi Girls High School, which is also located in Murang'a.
