Teachers eye career growth as Ruto boosts promotion budget

After a decade of waiting, Leonida Moragu Onchieku finally dares to dream again.

The Nairobi Road Secondary School teacher from Nakuru County says she has been stagnating in one job group for the last 10 years. After attending the Walimu Na Rais Forum at State House, Nairobi, she believes change is finally within reach.

“That gives me hope that very soon I will get a promotion after I stagnated in one job group for the last 10 years,” Leonida said, her face lit with optimism.

In a moment described as historic, more than 10,000 Kenyan teachers and education stakeholders converged on State House, marking the first time a sitting President has hosted such a large number of educators. This unprecedented gathering, attended by tutors like Leonida, signifies a major shift in the dialogue between the government and the teaching profession.

Her excitement stems from President William Ruto’s announcement that the government will double funding for teacher promotions, raising allocations from Ksh.1 billion to Ksh.2 billion annually. The move, he said, would ensure at least 50,000 teachers are promoted every year, up from the current 25,000.

Ruto acknowledged that nearly 400,000 teachers are eligible for promotion, noting that the issue of stagnation has long weighed down the profession.

He challenged education stakeholders to urgently review the career progression guidelines so that teachers can be rewarded fairly and timely for their service.

For Leonida, this is more than just an administrative policy. It is a lifeline.

“We are so excited because of the promises His Excellency the President made to the teachers’ fraternity. What excites me most is the issue of stagnation,” she said.

Beyond promotions, she lauded the Competency-Based Education (CBE) for nurturing creativity and innovation among learners.

“Our pupils in Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) and primary are so creative. They even make homemade dustbins and weave at home. Parents and teachers are so excited,” she added, emphasizing how the new curriculum is shaping self-employment opportunities for future generations.

That sentiment was echoed by Leonard Oronje, the executive secretary of Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), Kwale branch.

He described CBE as “learner-centred” and a curriculum that would “take Kenya to the next level” by enabling students to specialize in areas they are passionate about, turning hobbies into viable careers.

Oronje also underlined the historic nature of the gathering.

“Since 1963, there has been no moment when a president of Kenya has met education stakeholders of this magnitude. Over 10,000 teachers met the president today. This is a historical moment,” he said.

Leonard Oronje, Executive Secretary of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), Kwale branch, after the consultative meeting at State House.

The President used the forum to assure teachers that the government is steadily addressing shortages in staffing. He revealed that 76,000 teachers have been hired in under three years, with plans to recruit an additional 40,000, bringing the total to 116,000. This, he noted, would push Kenya closer to meeting the UNESCO-recommended teacher-student ratio.

For the teachers who had a one-on-one meeting with the President at the State House, the day was more than just a meeting. It was a recognition of their role, a platform to voice long-standing grievances, and a promise of better days ahead.