Eveleen Mitei appointed Acting CEO. Who is Eveleen Mitei? Read her Biography here.
Eveleen Mitei has been appointed as Acting Chief Executive Officer, CEO, to the Teachers Service Commission, TSC. Her appointment comes following the commencement of terminal leave by long serving Boss Dr Nancy Macharia.
Via an internal memo dated June 1, 2025, Dr Macharia announced she had begun her terminal leave, officially stepping aside ahead of her retirement on June 30, 2025. Her departure marks the end of a turbulent tenure at the helm of the Commission, during which she served in various capacities and oversaw significant reforms in Kenya’s education sector.
“I am proceeding on Terminal Leave with effect from today, June 1, 2025, pending my retirement from the Teachers Service Commission on June 30, 2025, after serving the Commission in various capacities. In the meantime, note that the Commission has appointed Ms Eveleen Mitei, to act as the Commission Secretary/CEO pending the appointment of my successor. I urge you to accord her the necessary support,” Macharia said.
Search for new CEO halted
This comes after the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Mombasa issued interim orders suspending the recruitment process for the new TSC CEO. This action was taken in response to a petition filed by a Mombasa resident, Thomas Mosomi Oyugi, who claims the recruitment process is marred by constitutional violations and discriminatory criteria.
In the petition, the petitioner argued that the entire recruitment process was rigged with constitutional violations as well as discriminatory criteria.
“The status quo that shall be obtained on May 27, 2025, at 5:10 PM, as regards the impugned process, shall be maintained till further orders of this court,” Justice Kebira ruled.
Requirements for one to serve as TSC CEO
In a notice published in May, TSC invited qualified candidates to apply for the top job. The role involves steering the commission’s strategic direction and overseeing its day-to-day operations.
“The Secretary shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission responsible for the implementation of policies, decisions and strategies of the Commission,” the advert read in part.
The next CEO will serve a five-year term, renewable once, in line with Section 16 of the TSC Act.
They are also required to meet the requirements of Chapter 6 of the Constitution and possess a minimum of ten years of experience in education, administration and management, public administration, human resources, or financial management.
Interested candidates can download the application form from the TSC website and submit it, along with the necessary documents, to the Commission’s Chairman’s office in Upper Hill, Nairobi, on or before Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
Additionally, applicants are required to obtain clearance certificates from relevant bodies, including KRA, HELB, EACC, DCI, and CRB.
The appointment comes at a time when the commission is undergoing key policy reforms and facing growing scrutiny over teacher management and education standards in Kenya.
Dr Macharia, however, highlighted the Commission’s achievements during her tenure, including navigating challenges and transforming service delivery to educators across the country. She praised the TSC team for their professionalism and urged them to uphold the Commission’s core values even as leadership transitions.
“I am extremely proud of you, not just as employees of the Commission, but also as an outstanding team. I urge you to keep working hard, continue delivering services that reflect the best of you and protect the core values of our institution. Looking to the future, I am confident that you will accord my successor, the management team and the Commission’s Board the necessary support in steering the Commission to even greater heights,” she said.
Who will be the New TSC CEO?
A number of hopefuls are eyeing the TSC plum job. Dr Reuben Nthamburi, the deputy CEO of TSC at the moment, is one of the leading candidates.
Prof Charles Ong’ondo, who heads the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development, is also seen as a strong contender due to his experience overseeing the development of the Competency-Based Curriculum. Dr Julius Jwan, a former Basic Education Principal Secretary, has also been mentioned.
Other possible replacements include Dr Lydia Nzomo, a veteran administrator and former TSC Chairperson, widely respected for her defence of teachers’ rights and leadership in teacher management, and Dr Simon Gicharu, the founder of Mount Kenya University.
Profile of Acting TSC Boss Evaleen Mitei
Before being appointed as the acting head of the TSC, Mitei had dedicated 31 years to the Commission. Her latest position was Senior Deputy Director, a role she has occupied since February 2013.
Previously, she was the Deputy Director of the Human Resource Directorate, where she managed the HRM Division starting in 2011.
From July 1994 to 2012, she worked as a Human Resource Manager, responsible for employee recruitment, selection, deployment, and compensation.
Additionally, Mitei was part of the Ministry of Public Service, working with the Public Service Reform Secretariat from February 2003 to March 2007.
During this period, she contributed to various public service reform initiatives, including Results-Based Management, the implementation of performance contracts, and human resource management strategies.
She earned an MSc in Human Resource Management from the University of Manchester’s Manchester Business School (2001–2002) and a Bachelor of Education in English and Literature from Moi University (1990–1994).
Mitei’s appointment as Acting TSC head follows interim orders from the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) in Mombasa, which suspended the recruitment process for the Commission’s new CEO.
