Kenya, Sept. 14 -- In a landmark gathering that brought together over 10,000 educators from across the country, President William Ruto hosted a high-profile forum at State House on Saturday, September 13, 2025, dubbed "Walimu na Rais." The event, attended by representatives from major teachers' unions including the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET), Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA), and Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA), turned into a celebration of support for the education sector.
Teachers erupted in chants of "Tutam" - a rallying cry of solidarity - as Ruto unveiled a series of concrete promises aimed at addressing long-standing grievances over pay, welfare, and working conditions.
The atmosphere was electric from the start, with educators waving enthusiastically and responding to Ruto's greetings with unified zeal. The president, acknowledging teachers as "Kenya's greatest resource and patriots who dedicate extra hours to shaping the destiny of our children," emphasized his administration's commitment to dialogue over confrontation.
"We are indebted to these heroes," Ruto stated, as he outlined 10 key pledges designed to transform the teaching profession and boost morale amid ongoing economic pressures.At the forefront of the announcements was a groundbreaking housing initiative. Ruto revealed that he would sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Affordable Housing Board and teachers' unions, reserving 20 percent of all units in the government's Affordable Housing Programme exclusively for educators.
"Today we are going to sign an MOU so that teachers can get 20 percent of all the housing we are constructing," he declared, prompting immediate cheers and chants. This move is seen as a direct response to the high cost of living and housing shortages plaguing many teachers, particularly in urban areas.
Retirement benefits emerged as another major focus. Ruto promised that teachers retiring from service would receive their payouts within 10 days, a significant improvement over previous delays that often stretched for months. He went further, envisioning a future where payments could be processed in a single day or even on the same day of retirement. "If we have to do a Marshall Plan to get them in, then we will," the president added, referring to expedited financial support for retirees.
Promotions, a perennial pain point for the nearly half a million teachers in service, received a substantial boost. Despite 151,000 promotions over the past three years, stagnation has left many feeling overlooked. Ruto directed the doubling of the annual promotion budget from Sh1 billion to Sh2 billion, enabling at least 50,000 additional promotions each year. This pledge aims to clear backlogs and reward dedication, with implementation details to be communicated within 60 days.
Special needs educators were not left out. Ruto committed to elevating their job grades by one level, accompanied by enhanced financial support to reflect the unique demands of their roles. The current Ksh20,000 allowance for special needs guides will also undergo review to better align with their contributions.
In a related development, the president called for shortening the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) cycle from four years to either three or two years, allowing for more frequent adjustments to salaries and benefits in line with inflation and economic changes.Health and school funding rounded out the commitments.
Ruto highlighted the inadequacies of the current teachers' medical scheme, which lags behind civil service standards, and vowed reforms to bring it up to par. On education infrastructure, he supported the establishment of Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) resource centers in every sub-county, with National Assembly Education Committee Chair Julius Melly pledging Constituency Development Fund (CDF) resources to make it happen.
School heads also pressed for increased Free Primary Education (FPE) funding, timely disbursements, and a minimum essential package for all schools, regardless of enrollment size, to curb wastage in understaffed institutions. Ruto affirmed his earlier pledge on this front, signaling a "martial plan" to rescue teachers' economic capacity.
The meeting, which some observers noted veered into campaign territory with chants of "two-term" in support of Ruto's 2027 re-election bid, shows the symbiotic relationship between the government and the education workforce. Union leaders like KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu expressed optimism, describing the forum as a step toward fulfilling long-delayed demands.
As Kenya grapples with education reforms and fiscal challenges, these promises could mark a turning point, provided they translate into swift action. Educators left State House energized, hopeful that Ruto's words will lead to tangible improvements in their livelihoods and the nation's classrooms.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.