For ten painful years, Julius Odhiambo watched his teaching dream fade as his children grew up without the security he had promised them.
The 37-year-old primary school teacher from Kajiado County trained with hope, believing employment under the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) would come within a few years. Instead, year after year passed with no placement. To survive, he worked in several private schools, where salaries were often delayed, reduced, or failed to meet basic family needs.
By January 2026, the emotional and financial pressure had become unbearable. Odhiambo said he was informed that his chances of securing a TSC job were extremely low despite waiting for more than a decade. The news crushed him. With debts piling up and his children already moved to a local school due to lack of fees, he felt trapped and helpless.
💬 Many trained teachers say this is the moment they completely lose hope — would you have kept waiting or walked away?
On February 3, overwhelmed and exhausted, Odhiambo made a decision he never imagined he would make. He resigned from his contract teaching job, saying he no longer had the strength to continue standing in front of a classroom while worrying about survival. At that point, he admitted he had lost hope not only in teaching, but in life itself.
Then, just days later, something unexpected happened.
At the start of what would have been his 11th year without permanent employment, Odhiambo received a message confirming he had finally secured a TSC job. The news left him emotional and grateful. Speaking after signing his confirmation letter, he thanked God and expressed appreciation to the government for the opportunity.
💬 Some say patience finally paid off, others say this wait was unnecessary — where do you stand?
Odhiambo also revealed that a colleague aged 48 secured placement on the same day, giving hope to older teachers who feel forgotten by the system. After years of uncertainty and working in five different private schools, he will report to his new primary school in Kisumu County on March 10, 2026.
His story highlights a reality many trained teachers face — long waiting periods, financial strain, and emotional exhaustion. Yet it also raises difficult questions about how long hope should be tested before change comes.
By tuko