Ruto announces recruitment of 24,000 more teachers by January to ease national shortage
Ruto noted that this move, combined with the 76,000 teachers already hired, will bring the total to 100,000 within three years.
A total of 24,000 teachers will be recruited by January next year, boosting the government’s effort to address the chronic shortage in schools, President William Ruto has said.
Speaking on Thursday during his State of the Nation address at Parliament, Ruto noted that this move, combined with the 76,000 teachers already hired, will bring the total to 100,000 within three years, an achievement he described as “unmatched in the history of our country.”
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The President said the government acted swiftly to restore education as the great equaliser through the student-centred funding model, adding that scholarships and loans now follow both need and merit, placing the learner at the centre.
He highlighted that nearly 500,000 students have already benefited from this approach.
Ruto also noted that his administration has improved school infrastructure, saying that, together with the national government and the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), it has delivered 23,000 new classrooms and has 1,600 laboratories under construction, easing congestion and providing CBC with the dignified facilities it requires.
On Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), the President said enrollment has risen from 341,000 in 2022 to 718,000, calling it “the engine of practical skills” as young Kenyans increasingly pursue careers in engineering, ICT, modern agriculture, hospitality, design and the trades that power a modern economy.
He stressed that these reforms uphold national values.
“In strengthening education at every level, we are giving life to the national values in Article 10, especially equity, human dignity and sustainable development, ensuring every child has a better chance to rise,” he said.
The address comes amid a brewing crisis among Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers, who have threatened to disrupt learning in January 2026 unless their one-year internship contracts are converted to permanent and pensionable terms.
Teachers hired on internship terms in Nairobi and other counties said their agreements with the Ministry of Education were intended as a transition into permanent employment, arguing that low pay under the internship scheme is “discriminatory and unsustainable.”
At least 20,000 JSS intern teachers have criticised President Ruto’s directive to confirm teachers only after two years of service, claiming poor pay affects their performance. From Laikipia and Kiambu to Nairobi, the teachers have demanded confirmation, warning they will not report back to schools if their demands are not met.
Teachers have also criticised the government’s recruitment approach, alleging favouritism in confirming interns and arguing that some previous cohorts were employed only after completing a year as interns.
Low pay remains a major concern, with teachers receiving Sh17,000 per month, which they say is insufficient given the high cost of living.
President Ruto, during his recent tour of the Ukambani region, reiterated that teachers would only be confirmed after completing two years of service.
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