On October 5, 2026, President William Ruto presided over World Teachers Day celebrations at Kasarani Gymnasium in Nairobi, where he made the announcement. The President stated that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) had already advertised 34,016 promotion opportunities, but directed that the number be increased to 50,000. He also assured that the Government would provide additional funding to make this possible.
President Ruto revealed that the Government had doubled the teacher promotion budget from Ksh.1 billion to Ksh.2 billion. Since he took office in 2022, 126,462 teachers have been promoted, more than under any previous administration. The President emphasized that investment in education had increased significantly, from Ksh.526 billion in 2021/22 to Ksh.702 billion in 2025/26, and now tops Ksh.784.5 billion, making education the largest allocation in the national budget.
The President highlighted that the Government had recruited 100,000 teachers in the past four years, with another 20,000 expected to join by December 2026. This is the largest expansion of the teaching workforce in Kenya's history. Additionally, he noted that Ksh.4.9 billion had been provided to move 20,000 contract teachers, who have served a two-year internship, to permanent and pensionable terms in January 2027.
President Ruto also emphasized the Government's commitment to teacher professional development, with over 220,000 teachers re-tooled for Competency-Based Education. Furthermore, KSh952 million had been provided for teacher capacity development. The President pointed out that the Government had built more than 23,000 classrooms and was equipping 1,600 laboratories to support science and the Senior School Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics pathway.
On remuneration, President Ruto explained that the first phase of salary increases under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement was paid last year, and the second phase in July 2026. This year's budget had provided a further Ksh.8.1 billion to keep the implementation of the agreement on schedule. The Government had also strengthened teachers' medical cover under the Social Health Authority (SHA), doubling inpatient access from 7 per cent to 14 per cent.
President Ruto's administration has also made efforts to improve teachers' welfare, including a salary check-off system that would allow teachers to pay for affordable homes directly. Twenty per cent of affordable homes had been reserved for teachers under an agreement signed in September 2025 between the Affordable Housing Board, KNUT, and KUPPET. The President also assured that teachers' pension processing would be sped up, with the Pension Management Information System rollout beginning on July 1, 2026.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba, Basic Education Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa, and union leaders, including KNUT Chair Collins Oyuu and KUPPET Chair Omboko Milemba, were present at the event. They commended President Ruto's efforts in the education sector, citing the employment of over 100,000 teachers and the increased investment in education.
Key points
- President Ruto announces 50,000 teacher promotions in the 2026/27 financial year.
- The Government has doubled the teacher promotion budget from Ksh.1 billion to Ksh.2 billion.
- Over 126,000 teachers have been promoted since President Ruto took office in 2022.
