President William Ruto has announced that 50,000 teachers will be promoted during the current financial year, in what is set to become the largest teacher promotion exercise undertaken in a single year in Kenya. The President directed the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to increase the planned promotions from the 34,016 positions already advertised.
Speaking during the World Teachers’ Day celebrations at Kasarani Gymnasium in Nairobi, President Ruto said the Government would provide additional funding to facilitate the expanded promotion programme. He noted that the teacher promotion budget had already doubled from KSh1 billion to KSh2 billion, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to strengthening teachers’ career progression and welfare.
The latest announcement adds to a wider record of teacher recruitment and promotion under the Ruto administration. Since 2022, 126,462 teachers have been promoted, while 100,000 teachers have been recruited over the past four years. A further 20,000 teachers are expected to join the workforce by December 2026, representing a major expansion of Kenya’s teaching capacity.
The Government is also addressing the transition of teachers from temporary to more secure employment. President Ruto said KSh4.9 billion has been allocated to move 20,000 contract teachers who have completed two years of internship to permanent and pensionable terms from January 2027. The move is expected to strengthen job security while retaining experienced teachers within the education system.
Investment in education has simultaneously increased significantly, rising from KSh526 billion in 2021/22 to KSh702 billion in 2025/26 and more than KSh784.5 billion currently. The increased allocation is supporting teacher development, infrastructure and the implementation of Competency-Based Education, with more than 220,000 teachers already re-tooled and KSh952 million allocated for capacity development.
Teacher welfare has also been expanded beyond employment and professional advancement. The Government has increased funding for the implementation of the teachers’ Collective Bargaining Agreement, with KSh8.1 billion provided in the current budget. Under the Social Health Authority, medical access for teachers has been strengthened, with 415,608 teachers and 884,392 dependants covered by the end of September 2026.
The Government is also linking teacher welfare to home ownership and retirement security. Twenty per cent of affordable housing units have been reserved for teachers under an agreement with KNUT and KUPPET, while a salary check-off mechanism is being developed to facilitate home purchases. At the same time, the Pension Management Information System is being rolled out to accelerate retirement benefits, with the Government targeting payment of pension benefits within 10 days of retirement.
The expanded promotions, recruitment, housing, healthcare, professional development and retirement reforms point to a broader Government strategy of strengthening the teaching profession while improving education delivery. Teacher unions welcomed the progress, with KNUT Chairman Collins Oyuu praising the recruitment record, while KUPPET Chairman Omboko Milemba highlighted the scale of employment created under the administration. At the same time, Education CS Julius Ogamba urged university lecturers to resume work, saying the Government remains committed to addressing their concerns and safeguarding their interests.
