Updated 10 November 2026.
Direct answer: The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has advertised 7,720 teaching posts: 5,609 in primary schools, 25 in junior schools and 2,086 in secondary schools. Three outlets report that applications opened on 10 November 2026 and close at midnight on Monday 23 November 2026, online only. Recruitment is free.
What TSC has published
TSC’s website now lists “Advert & guidelines on recruitment of teachers to fill vacancies arising from natural attrition, November 2026”. On its downloads page we opened the three vacancy lists, dated 10 November 2026: Appendix 1 for 5,609 primary school vacancies, Appendix 2 for 25 junior school replacement vacancies, and Appendix 3 for 2,086 secondary school vacancies, split by county, sub-county, school and subject combination. We also opened the primary recruitment guidelines, TSC Circular No. 20/2026. We did not find the advert notice itself as a separate file, so the closing date and the application rules below come from three news reports that agree with one another: Kenyans.co.ke (10 November, 08:19), Pulse Kenya (10 November, 08:02) and The Eastleigh Voice (10 November). Read the full advert on tsc.go.ke before you submit.
The facts at a glance
| Item | What is published or reported |
|---|---|
| Total posts | 7,720, to replace teachers who left through natural attrition (reports say permanent and pensionable terms) |
| Primary schools | 5,609 (TSC Appendix 1) |
| Junior schools | 25 (TSC Appendix 2); the reports say these teachers are posted to the schools where the vacancies arose |
| Secondary schools | 2,086 (TSC Appendix 3) |
| Portal opened | 10 November 2026 (reports) |
| Portal closes | Midnight, Monday 23 November 2026 (reports) |
| How to apply | Online only, from the Careers section of tsc.go.ke; manual applications are not accepted (reports) |
| Basic requirements (reports) | Kenyan citizen, registered with TSC; at least a P1 certificate for primary, at least a Diploma in Education for junior and secondary |
| Cost | Free. TSC’s downloads page carries a notice that recruitment is free of charge |
How to apply, step by step
- Confirm you are registered with TSC. The primary guidelines say all applicants must be duly registered teachers under Section 23(1) of the TSC Act, 2012.
- Open tsc.go.ke yourself and go to Careers. Kenyans.co.ke and The Eastleigh Voice name teachersonline.tsc.go.ke as the portal. Type the address or start from the TSC site; do not follow a link sent on WhatsApp.
- Complete one Application for Employment Form only. The reports say more than one form means automatic disqualification.
- Apply for a county and sub-county where a vacancy is declared. The guidelines require this, and the Appendices list every vacancy.
- Submit before midnight on 23 November. Do not leave it to the last evening.
What it means for teachers
Check your documents now
The guidelines say shortlisted applicants appear in person at sub-county level with original and photocopied documents: national ID, TSC registration certificate, your professional certificate, KCSE and KCPE certificates, a KNEC certification letter where applicable, and school leaving certificates. If your name differs between documents and your ID, you need a sworn affidavit. If you re-sat KCPE or KCSE, you need certified copies for every attempt. The guidelines say applicants get at least seven days’ notice by SMS before verification, so keep your phone number on the portal correct.
Match your qualification to the post
The guidelines list accepted routes and minimum KCSE grades, for example a Bachelor of Education (Primary Option) with a minimum mean grade of C+, or a Diploma in Primary Teacher Education with a minimum C plain. Read that list before you apply, because the news reports give only the short version.
Teachers with disabilities
The guidelines say at least 5 percent of the advertised slots are reserved for teachers with disabilities, and applicants are asked to declare their disability status.
New entrants and merit lists
The reports say preference goes to applicants who have never been employed by TSC, that successful candidates can be posted anywhere in the country (except the 25 junior school posts), and that merit lists may be used for later vacancies in the 2026/2027 financial year. None of the reports says how interns are treated, so read the advert on tsc.go.ke if that affects you.
Our earlier report on the TSC acting CEO’s plan for 16,000 more teachers covered a separate statement. None of the reports we read says this 7,720 advert is part of that plan. While you wait, our Term 1 2027 teacher checklist shows which professional documents to keep ready.
Fraud warning: never pay for a TSC job
TSC says recruitment is free of charge. Do not pay anyone who claims to influence selection, shortlisting or posting, and apply only through the official TSC portal. Pulse Kenya reports that suspected fraud can be reported to the nearest TSC office, the Director of Staffing, dirstaffing@tsc.go.ke, or the nearest police station. The guidelines also warn that anyone presenting forged or fake certificates commits an offence and is disqualified and deregistered.
Frequently asked questions
How many teaching posts has TSC advertised?
7,720: 5,609 primary, 25 junior and 2,086 secondary, according to TSC’s Appendices 1 to 3 and three news reports.
When does the application close?
Kenyans.co.ke, Pulse Kenya and The Eastleigh Voice report midnight on Monday 23 November 2026. We could not open the advert notice itself, so confirm on tsc.go.ke.
Can I apply by hand or through an agent?
No. The reports say manual applications will not be accepted. Apply online yourself, and do not pay an agent.
Who can apply?
Reports say Kenyan citizens registered with TSC, with at least a P1 certificate for primary or at least a Diploma in Education for junior and secondary. The guidelines give the full list of qualifications and KCSE grades.
Where do I find vacancies in my county?
On the TSC downloads page under teachers’ adverts, in Appendices 1, 2 and 3, which list vacancies by county and sub-county.
Sources
- TSC downloads, teachers’ adverts: Appendices 1 to 3 and recruitment guidelines, November 2026 (opened 10 Nov 2026)
- Teachers Service Commission home page, notice of the November 2026 advert
- TSC Opens 7,720 Teaching Vacancies (Kenyans.co.ke, 10 Nov 2026, 08:19)
- TSC Opens Applications for 7,720 Permanent, Pensionable Teaching Vacancies (Pulse Kenya, 10 Nov 2026, 08:02)
- TSC announces 7,720 teaching vacancies (The Eastleigh Voice, 10 Nov 2026)
CBC Edu Kenya reports published notices and is not part of TSC or the Ministry of Education. Details are as published and reported on 10 November 2026 and may change; the official advert on tsc.go.ke prevails.
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