Thousands of intern teachers across Kenya are affected. We work full-time in classrooms, manage large classes, prepare lessons, mark exams, and support learners — yet we earn as little as KSH 20,000 but go home with KSh 17,000 after statutory deductions per month, with no benefits or job security. Many of us have relocated far from home, struggle with rent, transport, and family responsibilities, and are forced to survive on debt. We are committed to shaping Kenya’s future, but our dedication is undervalued and exploited.

If TSC renews our contracts instead of converting us to Permanent and Pensionable (PNP) teachers, the injustice continues. Many interns will remain trapped in financial insecurity, with no career progression and no dignity. The quality of education suffers because demoralized teachers cannot perform at their best, and Kenya’s children — our learners — are ultimately the ones who pay the price. The constitutional rights of workers and the promises of Parliament remain unfulfilled.

Now is the critical moment. TSC is planning contract renewals, which would further exploit interns and waste the opportunity provided by public funds. Parliament has already allocated funds (Ksh 7.2 Billion) for conversion, but delays and insufficient allocation must be addressed immediately. Signing and sharing this petition ensures that interns are recognized, funded properly in the upcoming Supplementary Budget, and converted to permanent positions before the next school year begins. Time is of the essence — the future of thousands of interns, and the quality of education in Kenya, hangs in the balance.

Thousands of intern teachers in Kenya have served the nation with dedication, professionalism, and sacrifice. They carry a full teaching workload — lesson planning, marking, discipline, class management, CBC responsibilities, and co-curricular duties — yet they earn far below a living wage, with no benefits, no job security, and no progression.

Parliament previously allocated funds toward the conversion of intern teachers to Permanent and Pensionable (PNP) employment. However, the allocation has proved insufficient to complete the process for all intern teachers.

Despite this reality, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is planning to renew intern contracts, instead of prioritising the legal and equitable path of converting teachers to PNP through proper budgeting.

This approach is unfair, unconstitutional, exploitative, fiscally questionable, and contrary to established public service values.

Constitutional and Legal Violations

1. Article 41 – Fair Labour Practices

Interns perform the same duties as fully employed teachers but receive unequal compensation and no benefits.
This is unfair labour, discriminatory treatment, and economic exploitation.

2. Article 47 – Fair Administrative Action

The decision to renew internships lacks transparency, justification, public participation, and a clear financial report.
This makes the administrative action unlawful, unreasonable, and procedurally unfair.

3. Article 232 – Values & Principles of Public Service

The renewal of internship contracts violates principles of:

Fairness
Accountability for public resources
Transparency
Human dignity
Merit-based progression
Equity
4. Article 10 – National Values & Principles of Governance

TSC’s actions undermine:

Human dignity
Social justice
Good governance
Accountability
Transparency
5. Article 27 – Equality & Non-Discrimination

Interns do equal work but receive unequal pay, unequal rights, and unequal treatment.
This is discrimination.

6. Article 43 – Economic & Social Rights

A full-time teacher earning 17K–20K cannot meet basic living needs with dignity.
This violates economic rights.

7. Public Service Commission (PSC) Internship Guidelines

PSC guidelines clearly state:

Internship must not exceed 12 months
Internship must be training, not long-term labour
Renewing the same internship for a second year is unlawful.

The Budget Reality

The previously allocated budget for intern conversion was not sufficient to convert all teachers to PNP.

Instead of renewing exploitative contracts, the lawful, fair, and constitutional solution is:

To include the conversion of intern teachers in the upcoming Supplementary Budget.

This is a normal, legal, and constitutional mechanism for addressing funding gaps.

Under:

Article 95(4)(c): Parliament oversees national revenue and expenditure
Article 118: Public participation in budget and legislative processes
Article 221: National Assembly approval of government budgets
Citizens have the right to request specific budget allocations, including funding for teacher employment.

Our Demands

We, the undersigned, call on:

Teachers Service Commission
Ministry of Education
National Treasury
National Assembly (Education Committee & Budget Committee)
Senate (Education Committee)
to immediately take the following actions:

1. Stop all plans to renew intern teacher contracts.

2. Convert all intern teachers to Permanent & Pensionable terms without delay.

3. Factor intern teacher conversion into the upcoming Supplementary Budget to ensure full funding.

Kenyan intern teachers are not demanding special treatment.
They are demanding rights, fairness, justice, and respect for the Constitution.

Interns deserve stable employment, dignified pay, and the career progression that Parliament has already acknowledged as necessary.

We call upon all Kenyans, stakeholders, and leaders to support this petition and stand for justice in our education system.