KUPPET Aspirant Faults Government for ‘Mixed Signal' on Fate of Interns

Teachers in Bomet County have expressed frustration over what they term as conflicting statements from government officials regarding the confirmation of intern teachers.

An aspirant for the Bomet chairmanship of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), Emmanuel Ngeno, has questioned the government’s commitment to its pledge to confirm the interns.

Ngeno, a front-runner in the upcoming union elections, said KUPPET would not relent until all intern teachers are fully absorbed into permanent positions.

“The government should stop the circus surrounding the confirmation of intern teachers. We are worried by conflicting statements from top officials, which have caused confusion and frustration among teachers,” said Ngeno.

Ngeno, a teacher at Chepngaina Secondary School in Bomet Central Sub-County, said mixed signals from officials were causing unnecessary anxiety.

He said intern teachers have endured hardship and face an uncertain future, urging the government to take swift action to end the stalemate.

Ngeno was reacting to recent remarks by National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, who assured the public that all Junior Secondary School (JSS) interns would be confirmed before January 2026.

Mbadi’s remarks appeared to contradict those of Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogambo, who has indicated that intern contracts may be renewed.

“I thought the government is one. How can the Treasury CS say teachers will be confirmed before 2026, while the Education CS insists on renewing the contracts?” Ngeno posed.

He added: “Teachers are tired of this back-and-forth. The government should stop the circus and speak with one voice.”

Speaking during a radio interview, Mbadi said the confirmation process would begin immediately after the KCSE examinations, adding that funds had already been factored into the upcoming budget.

“I know many interns are anxious and have been sending me messages,” said Mbadi. “Please don’t flood my inbox. I assure you the conversion will happen before January 2026.”

National Assembly Education Committee Chairperson and Tinderet MP Julius Melly echoed Mbadi’s position, saying on KASS TV that the government plans to absorb about 20,000 JSS interns before January 2026.

However, Education CS Ogambo told the National Assembly that interns whose one-year contracts expire in December will have to renew them if the Treasury fails to release funds in time.

“Unless the Treasury releases resources, we have no option but to renew the contracts until the confirmation process can be financed,” Ogambo said.

Ngeno criticized the apparent lack of coordination between ministries, saying the contradictory statements were demoralizing hardworking teachers who already feel neglected.

“These are trained professionals doing the same work as permanent teachers, yet they are paid peanuts that cannot sustain them in today’s economy,” he said. “The bottom line is simple — confirm them. They’ve earned it.”

His remarks mirror growing frustration within the education sector, as KUPPET and intern teachers continue to pressure the government to fulfill its promise, arguing that the internship model amounts to exploitation disguised as training.