Ruto courts teachers with pay reforms, promotions, medical cover and housing

President William Ruto meets with teachers' unions at State House, Nairobi. [PCS] President William Ruto on Saturday unveiled a raft of commitments to teachers, pledging reforms on pay, promotions, medical cover, housing and funding. The review, the President said, will be met in specific timelines after further consultations with unions, the Ministry of Education and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). Addressing more than 10,000 teachers at the State House, Nairobi, the President agreed to shorten the cycle of reviewing the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which currently stands at four years. But rather than impose a new term, he tasked the TSC, Ministry of Education and teachers' unions to propose whether the period should be reduced to three or two years. "The next time we are engaging, I want to receive a proposal. Should it be four to three, or four to two?" Ruto said, adding that the matter must be resolved through structured talks. The current CBA for the period 2025-2029 was signed in July and is already in effect, with the first phase of basic salary increments implemented. At the meeting, teachers unloaded their frustrations over starved budgets, delayed promotions, and unpopular policies that have left schools reeling. Kenya Primary School Heads Association (Kepsha) chairman Fuad Ali set the tone by calling for a major review of Free Primary Education (FPE) funding. Fuad said the current amount of Sh1,420 is too little, calling for a review as proposed by a team appointed by President William Ruto in 2023. The Presidential working party on education reforms had initially suggested that the funding of primary schools be raised to Sh2238. Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) chairman Willie Kuria criticised the practice of deducting development funds from capitation, saying it left schools unable to run basic operations. "Students are not in school due to funding delays. The current capitation was set in 2018, and inflation has eaten into it. Even then, the allocations never come in full," Kuria said. He warned that some schools had been dragged to court over debts, and urged the President to intervene. "Schools are drowning in debt. We ask the government to help us offset them so that we can start on a clean slate," he said. Ruto conceded that schools are underfunded and promised to progressively close the gap. Primary schools are currently allocated Sh1,400 per child against the recommended Sh2,238. Ruto says the amount will be increased to the recommended rate in two tranches. The schools are set to get half of the increment next year and the remaining amount in the 2027/2028 financial year. In secondary schools currently receiving a slashed capitation of Sh17,000, he promised to restore the amount to the prescribed amount of Sh22,244. The President directed the Ministry of Education and Treasury to align their disbursement cycles - now misaligned because the financial year runs June-June while schools operate Jfrom anuary to December - and to file a joint report by December. On promotions, Ruto acknowledged stagnation in career progression, saying some teachers had stayed in the same grade for 10-20 years. He announced that from the 2025/26 budget, the allocation for promotions will be doubled from Sh1 billion to KSh2 billion annually. This is expected to raise the number of teachers promoted each year from 25,000 to 50,000. He asked TSC and unions to also review the Career Progression Guidelines, including concerns over remnants of delocalisation. On recruitment, Ruto directed that the TSC adopt a "first out, first in" model starting December 2025, meaning those who have waited longest since graduation will be prioritised. He further asked for data on teachers aged 45 and above who have never been posted, saying a plan will be designed within 60 days to explore their absorption, possibly through affirmative action. The President also confirmed that 24,000 teachers will be hired in January 2026, bringing the total number recruited in three years to 100,000. Teachers' medical scheme came under sharp criticism, with Ruto citing data showing it offers less value than what civil servants enjoy and charges more per visit. He said teachers' inpatient access is 7 per cent, compared to 12 per cent in the market and 14 per cent for civil servants, while the average inpatient cost stands at KSh117,000 against Sh100,000 in the industry and Sh98,000 for civil servants. He said the scheme will be overhauled, with a review agreed upon by unions and government to take effect before the current contract is renewed. On housing, Ruto disclosed that teachers contribute 13 per cent of the housing levy - about KSh900 million a month. He announced that 20 per cent of affordable housing units will be ring-fenced for teachers, up from the proportional 13. An MoU between the teachers and the Housing ministry was signed during the meeting to operationalise the allocation. Ruto approved one additional job grade for teachers handling learners with special needs and directed a review of allowances for their guides, currently capped at Sh20,000. He also said that from January 2026, students in arts and sports pathways under the Competency Based Curriculum will receive direct government funding for competitions, moving the activities from the category of "extracurricular." The President demanded that the Ministry of Education fast-track the rollout of the Kenya Education Management Information System to eliminate ghost learners and under-enrolled schools. He also pressed for the Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2025, which consolidates reforms from the Presidential Working Party, to be tabled in Parliament within 45 days.

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