The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is urging all registered teachers to sign up for the World Teachers’ Day marathon ahead of the registration deadline. The event takes place on Sunday, 27th September 2026, across all eight TSC regions and offers 5 km and 10 km categories. Teachers must register online using their TSC number, National ID or passport, and their Mwalimu email for OTP verification.
Key Takeaways
- The World Teachers’ Day marathon is on 27th September 2026 and will run simultaneously in all eight TSC regions.
- Registration closes on the Tuesday before the event — teachers must register at the TSC marathon portal using TSC number and Mwalimu email OTP.
- Two distance options (5 km and 10 km) make the event inclusive for all fitness levels.
- The marathon runs alongside the TSC Rewards and Recognition process, which is selecting awardees at Sub-County, County, Regional and National levels.
World Teachers’ Day marathon: Date, venues and categories
The marathon will start at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, 27th September 2026, and will be hosted in each of the eight TSC regions. There is no single national venue — each region organises its own route and logistics. Participants can choose between a 5 km and a 10 km race, allowing both casual participants and regular runners to take part.
How to register for the marathon
To register teachers must use the official online portal. The process requires:
- Enter your TSC Number.
- Enter your National ID or passport number.
- Wait for a One-Time Password (OTP) sent to your registered Mwalimu email.
- Enter the OTP to complete the registration form.
Registration is time‑bound and the Commission has stressed that interested teachers should act quickly to secure a slot in their region.
Why TSC is holding the marathon
The marathon links physical wellness to professional celebration. TSC says teacher health and team spirit matter, and the event promotes camaraderie across cadres — from ECDE to Teacher Training Colleges. The dual-distance format reflects sensitivity to varied fitness levels and encourages broad participation.
Parallel: the World Teachers’ Day awards process
Alongside the marathon, TSC is running a nationwide Rewards and Recognition Framework to honour outstanding teachers. The nomination window closed on 26th August 2026 and the selection process moves through multiple levels:
- Sub-County eligibility checks and longlists
- Sub-County and County shortlisting and verification
- Regional panels conducting interviews and final shortlists
- Final national selection by the Recognition and Awards Sub-Committee
The process will recognise teachers at Sub-County, County, Regional and National levels, with a total of 16,071 award slots across the categories.
Award categories and eligibility
The awards cover a wide range of contributions, including lifetime achievement, early years educator, inclusive education, innovation and ICT integration, child protection, co-curricular development, mentorship, resilience, national and international recognition, and sustainable development. Eligible nominees included currently registered teachers and retired teachers with demonstrable impact. Nominations required verifiable evidence and were limited to a maximum of two categories per nominee.
Selection process, inclusivity and data protection
Selection panels include TSC directors, education officers and stakeholder representatives to ensure fairness. The circular emphasised inclusivity, encouraging nominations of teachers with disabilities. TSC also committed to lawful and secure processing of nomination data in line with the Data Protection Act, retaining records only as necessary.
How teachers should prepare and next steps
Teachers planning to participate should:
- Register immediately at the TSC marathon portal to avoid missing the deadline.
- Confirm their registered Mwalimu email is active to receive the OTP during registration.
- Choose the distance that fits their fitness level and train accordingly.
- If involved in the awards process, prepare verifiable evidence and attend regional interviews when invited.
Teachers preparing learners or seeking curriculum resources can find free exam and curriculum materials to support teaching practice. For example, Primary teachers using the CBC can access free CBC exams and supporting resources. Those working with primary assessment preparation may find the free KCPE exams useful for practice materials, while secondary teachers can use free KCSE revision exams to support learners in exam readiness.
Summary
The World Teachers’ Day marathon is a TSC initiative to celebrate teacher wellness and unity alongside a comprehensive awards programme that recognises excellence at multiple levels. Teachers should register promptly, prepare required documents if nominated for awards, and use available teaching resources to support classroom work and learner preparation.
