President William Ruto has announced that the government will increase teacher promotions to 50,000 this year, up from the 34,016 positions already advertised, in what he described as the largest promotion exercise ever undertaken in a single year.
Speaking during the World Teachers’ Day 2026 celebrations at the Kasarani Gymnasium in Nairobi, the President lauded teachers for their role in shaping the country’s future, saying they are central to Kenya’s social and economic transformation.
“They do more than teach our children. They shape the people who build Kenya,” Ruto said, as he joined thousands of educators in marking the annual event.
The President said the Kenya Kwanza administration has continued to prioritise education through increased funding and reforms aimed at strengthening the sector.
He noted that the government has allocated KSh 784.5 billion to education in the current financial year, the largest share of the national budget, while also improving teachers’ welfare, professional development opportunities and working conditions.
Ruto further announced that the government had doubled the teacher promotion budget from KSh1 billion to KSh2 billion, paving the way for more career progression opportunities for educators across the country.
The move, he said, underscores the government’s commitment to recognising and rewarding teachers for their contribution to national development.
The increased investment comes amid sustained efforts by the government to enhance learning outcomes through teacher recruitment, infrastructure development and expanded funding for basic education institutions across the country.
