Teachers decry deceit as Ruto’s promotions, affordable houses promises yet to materialise

The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) is now accusing the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) of shortchanging them and failing to put into effect the Presidential directives.

In September, President William Ruto met over 10,000 teachers and gave them promises, including promotion of over 50,000 teachers and employment of 20,000 interns, which the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is yet to implement.

In the meeting that was held in State House, he promised to double the number of teachers promoted annually from 25,000 to 50,000 and further promised to reduce the 2025-2029 CBA cycle from four to two years while allocating 20 per cent of affordable houses to teachers.

Teachers, through their Union, have now accused TSC of failing to make funding requests to Parliament and Treasury for the promotion of the extra 25,000 teachers.

The Union Secretary-General, Akelo Misori, said that they are concerned by the Commission's failure to convene the technical committee to review job descriptions for teachers.

He noted that during the State House meeting, the President stated that the number of teachers who were promoted every year was too little and needed to be doubled.

“We are shocked that TSC has not made any funding requests to Parliament for the promotion of 25,000 more teachers during the upcoming supplementary budget, which is due by the end of January 2026” he said.

Misori said that the union had held a meeting with TSC where it emerged that funding had affected plans to convert 20,000 current interns into permanent employment.

The teachers have expressed dissatisfaction with the Commission's policy guidelines on intern teachers, which they fear may turn teachers into casual workers.

Flanked by Union officials, the Secretary-General said that they were in the dark over the promise by the President to reduce the 2025-2029 CBA cycle to two years.

This was echoed by the National Chairman, Omboko Milemba, who said that they would continue to push the Commission to make sure that the CBA directive was implemented.

He said that the Union had written to Housing PS Charles Hinga over the promise for 20 per cent of the affordable housing, and they were yet to get a reply.

The teachers gave the PS up to January to update them on the issue of affordable housing; failure to which they shall be forced to take serious measures.

Omboko revisited the issue of the review of career progression and medical cover from MINET to SHA, adding that they were keenly monitoring the progress made.