President William Ruto has announced that 50,000 teachers will be promoted during the current financial year, describing the move as the largest teacher promotion exercise undertaken in a single year in Kenya.
Speaking during World Teachers’ Day celebrations at Kasarani Gymnasium in Nairobi, Ruto said the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) had already advertised 34,016 promotion opportunities but directed that the number be increased to 50,000.
“The Government will provide additional funding to make this possible,” Ruto said.
The President said the government had doubled the teacher promotion budget from KSh1 billion to KSh2 billion.
Ruto outlines teacher recruitment and promotions
According to the President, 126,462 teachers have been promoted since he took office in 2022.
He also said the review of the new career progression guidelines had been completed by the TSC and teachers’ unions and was awaiting approval by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.
Ruto said the government had recruited 100,000 teachers over the past four years, with another 20,000 expected to join by December 2026.
Government statements have previously cited a major expansion of the teaching workforce, including plans to recruit additional teachers to address shortages.
The President further announced that KSh4.9 billion had been allocated to transition 20,000 contract teachers who have completed two-year internships to permanent and pensionable terms in January 2027.
Education budget rises to KSh784.5 billion
Ruto said government investment in education had increased from KSh526 billion in the 2021/22 financial year to KSh702 billion in 2025/26 and now stands at KSh784.5 billion.
He said the increased allocation was intended to strengthen the education system while improving teachers’ welfare, professional development and working conditions.
The President also said more than 220,000 teachers had undergone re-tooling for Competency-Based Education, while KSh952 million had been allocated for teacher capacity development.
He added that the government had constructed more than 23,000 classrooms and was equipping 1,600 laboratories to support science education and the Senior School Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics pathway.
Teachers to receive further salary increases
On remuneration, Ruto said the first phase of salary increases under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement had been implemented last year, followed by the second phase in July 2026.
He said the 2026/27 budget had allocated a further KSh8.1 billion to ensure implementation of the agreement remains on schedule.
The government had earlier allocated funding towards teacher promotions and other Teachers Service Commission needs. (President of Kenya)
Teachers’ SHA cover expanded
Ruto also highlighted changes to teachers’ medical cover under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
He said inpatient access had been doubled from 7 per cent to 14 per cent, while the number of facilities where teachers can access inpatient services had increased from 900 to 3,871.
“Today, your medical scheme runs under the SHA as part of our drive towards universal healthcare. By the end of September 2026, it had covered 415,608 teachers and 884,392 dependants,” he said.
20% of affordable homes reserved for teachers
On housing, the President said 20 per cent of affordable housing units had been reserved for teachers under an agreement signed in September 2025 between the Affordable Housing Board, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET).
He said the board was working with the TSC to establish a salary check-off system that would enable teachers to make payments for their homes directly.
Ruto also said the government was working to improve the processing of teachers’ retirement benefits.
According to the President, the Pension Management Information System, whose rollout began on July 1, 2026, was being used to speed up pension processing, with teachers’ records already being uploaded.
“The agencies responsible have assured me that within three months, we will be able to pay a teacher’s benefits within 10 days of retirement,” he said.
Government releases KSh86.1 billion in school capitation
Ruto further said the government had released school capitation before the beginning of every term in 2026, amounting to KSh86.1 billion.
Among those present at the World Teachers’ Day celebrations were Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba, Basic Education Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa, KNUT Chair Collins Oyuu, KUPPET Chair Omboko Milemba, TSC Chair Jamleck Muturi and TSC Acting CEO Evaleen Mitei.
