Kenyan leaders have paid tribute to teachers for their selfless service and enduring contribution to the country. President William Ruto described teachers as the foundation upon which the nation's human capital and future are built. He said teachers play a role that extends far beyond the classroom, shaping the professionals, leaders, and citizens who drive Kenya's development. Ruto noted that teachers are entrusted with the education and wellbeing of an entire generation.
President Ruto said virtually every profession in the country could trace its roots to a teacher, from doctors and engineers to lawyers, scientists, and architects. He thanked teachers for their patience, commitment, and faithfulness, saying their contribution is central to the transformation of the country. Ruto said teachers do not only teach Kenya's children, but also build the people who build Kenya. The President's remarks were made during the 2026 World Teachers' Day celebrations.
The celebrations marked six decades since the adoption of the 1966 international standard on the status of teachers, highlighting the importance of professional recognition, fair working conditions, and respect for educators. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said teacher welfare remained a priority, insisting that education could only thrive when teachers were supported financially, physically, and mentally. Ogamba said standing with teachers should go beyond speeches and celebrations to practical measures that improve their working conditions, career progression, and professional development.
Ogamba acknowledged the immense pressure teachers have faced during the transition to Competency-Based Education, saying educators had remained at the center of implementing the reforms from one level to another. He, however, stressed that teachers could not shoulder the responsibility of raising children alone, calling on parents and communities to work with schools in promoting discipline, patriotism, environmental conservation, cohesion, and responsible citizenship. Ogamba said our children are our greatest investment, and teachers cannot raise them alone.
TSC Chairman Dr. Jamleck Muturi praised teachers for continuing to deliver the curriculum despite working in difficult environments. He noted that every professional, regardless of their field, had at some point passed through the hands of a teacher. Muturi said teachers have worked tirelessly in different environments and conditions and are able to deliver the curriculum that they were given. He thanked teachers for the job well done.
The Education Committee of the National Assembly chairman, Julius Melly, described teachers as the "centre nerve" of the nation, saying they continued to work under difficult and sometimes extreme conditions. Melly said teachers played a critical role in shaping families and the country's leadership, while assuring Junior Secondary School teachers that their concerns would be presented to Parliament. Teacher unions used the occasion to remind the government that celebrating teachers must be accompanied by concrete action on long-standing grievances.
KNUT Secretary-General Collins Oyuu welcomed progress in teacher recruitment and promotions, noting that more than 100,000 teachers had been employed on permanent and pensionable terms. Oyuu renewed calls for shorter Collective Bargaining Agreement cycles, arguing that teachers should not have to wait four years for improved terms. KUPPET chairman Omboko Milemba highlighted groups he said remained overlooked, particularly Early Childhood Development Education teachers and unemployed P1-trained teachers aged above 45.
Key points
- President Ruto describes teachers as the great heroes and patriots of Kenya
- Education CS Ogamba says teacher welfare is a priority
- Teacher unions call for concrete action on long-standing grievances
