President William Ruto announced additional funding for teachers’ career progression in Mombasa.
President William Ruto says 50,000 teachers will advance in the current financial year as regulators approve new career progression guidelines.
President William Ruto has announced an additional Sh4 billion for teacher promotions, with 50,000 teachers set to advance in the current financial year.
Speaking at the Kenya Comprehensive School Heads Association National AGM in Mombasa, Ruto outlined plans to support teachers’ career progression. He described the planned promotions as the largest such exercise in a single year.
New guidelines for teacher promotions approved
Ruto said the Teachers Service Commission and teachers’ unions had concluded and agreed on new career progression guidelines. The Salaries and Remuneration Commission had also approved the framework, he told school heads.
The President presented the additional funding as support for teachers’ advancement under the career progression arrangements. He also acknowledged that promotions were a key concern for the school heads attending the meeting.
Meanwhile, Ruto said his administration had recruited 100,000 teachers over the past four years. Another 20,000 teachers are expected to join in December 2026, expanding the workforce further.
He said Kenya faced a shortage of 116,000 teachers in 2022. In response, his government had chosen to recruit faster than previous administrations, he added.
Ruto urges preparation for an AI-driven future
Beyond staffing, Ruto challenged education stakeholders to prepare learners for a future shaped by artificial intelligence. He warned that knowledge alone would no longer be enough to secure opportunities in a changing job market.
Instead, he urged educators to help children develop the ability to apply what they learn. His message stressed practical skills as a central part of preparing learners for future opportunities.
Ruto also called for more teachers, inspiring learning spaces and education funding that follows the learner. However, he acknowledged that Kenya still had work to do on foundational learning.
Although the country had made progress, he said it had not yet ensured that learners acquired essential reading and numeracy skills.
