What could have been President William Ruto’s winning card with teachers ahead of the 2027 elections is starting to backfire. Across Kenya, teachers are growing frustrated as the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) stalls on key promises, leaving educators feeling ignored and shortchanged.
In September, Ruto met more than 10,000 teachers at State House, pledging to double annual promotions from 25,000 to 50,000, hire 20,000 interns, shorten the 2025-2029 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) cycle from four to two years, and reserve 20 percent of affordable housing for teachers. Nearly four months later, none of these pledges has been fully delivered.
KUPPET Secretary-General Akelo Misori said TSC has yet to submit funding requests to Parliament for the extra promotions and has not convened a technical committee to review teachers’ job descriptions—a step necessary for career advancement.
“We are shocked that no funding requests have been made for the promotion of 25,000 teachers in the upcoming supplementary budget due by January 2026,” Misori said.
Teachers also worry about delays in converting 20,000 interns into permanent staff, warning that current policies risk turning their profession into casual work.
National Chairman Omboko Milemba said the union is still pressing for a shortened CBA cycle and has written to Housing PS Charles Hinga about the promised 20 percent allocation of affordable houses. With a January deadline looming, teachers are waiting—and watching.
Union leaders are also tracking reforms around career progression and medical coverage, signaling that further delays could push them toward stronger action. For Ruto, the clock is ticking if he hopes to keep teachers on his side ahead of 2027.
