Revealed: How Sh10,000 'reimbursement' kept teachers overnight at State House

Teachers representatives meeting with President William Ruto at State House Nairobi on September 13, 2025. [PSC] The image of teachers queuing overnight for handouts has left many questioning whether the dignity of the profession is being eroded in the name of political theatre. According to Amunga Khanyalabandu, an education advocate and researcher at the Kenya Women Teachers Association (KEWOTA), who attended the Saturday gathering, the invitation letter required teachers to be at the gates as early as 3 am. He further claimed that the 10,000 teachers' representatives had to camp at the State House waiting for the promised Sh10,000 reimbursement of transport costs. "The message I received on my phone I was to be at State House gates by 3.00am. When we got there, we were addressed, and after he (President Ruto) finished, we had to line up and wait for a long time according to alphabetical order. My colleagues left there in the morning," Khanyalabandu said. The education advocate criticised the current administration for its "savior" mentality, accusing it of ignoring actual concerns. "From what I think about William Ruto's kind of philosophy, whenever he calls us to those meetings, it feels if I can put it this way almost evangelistic. He tells teachers, from today, your problems are solved. But by the time we left, it was different." Mwalimu Amunga: From what I think about William Ruto's kind of philosophy, whenever he calls us to those meetings, it feels- if I can put it this way- almost evangelistic or faith-like, as though he wants to perform a miracle. He tells teachers, "From today, you have reached the... pic.twitter.com/ItDntT7Xs6 - KTN News (@KTNNewsKE) September 16, 2025 His sentiments were echoed by Tunza Mtoto Coalition Director, Janet Ouko, who accused the president of manipulating certain situations in his favour. "I have no problem with anybody visiting, but I have a big problem with the conversations led by the president. We all know he is not a believer in systems. How do you call 10,000 teachers to State House to discuss a matter clearly in the Constitution?" she posed. Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba, appearing on Citizen TV on Tuesday, said she was shocked to see teachers dancing at State House, which raised eyebrows across the political divide. "I'm disappointed that my colleague teachers are now being taken for a ride and can be paraded in State House for a meal, to go and dance politically on matters that are sensitive," said Wamuchomba. But Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) chairperson Omboko Milemba defended the dance, saying it was in return for the gains achieved from the talks. "Teachers have a right to visit the State House. The 10,000 who were there represent only two percent of all teachers. This has been a tradition since 2011. Even if they were given Sh5,000, they never went there for money. They went to raise their issues." Kathiani MP Robert Mbui also criticised the meeting, reading political manipulation by President Ruto. "This is the old script. Politicians want to turn everybody into a puppet through handouts. This is happening while school capitation has dropped by Sh6,000 per student. The president should have met representatives, not called all teachers," said Mbui. Wamuchomba added that no parliamentary allocation had been made for teacher reimbursements. "When we sign a CBA, we expect firm commitments from authorities, not roadside-style promises."

Revealed: How Sh10,000 'reimbursement' kept teachers overnight at State House

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