On September13, 2025, President William Ruto hosted 10,000 teachers led by their respective union officials gathered at State House, Nairobi, in what was termed as the ‘Walimu na Rais’ forum.
While State House visits have been frequented by small business groups, boda bodas, political mobilisers, preachers and other regional representatives, the meeting with teachers was one of a kind. One would never have imagined that the much-respected professionals would be at State House from as early as 3.00 am, waiting for a meal, presidential niceties, and later que for Ksh. 10,000 reimbursement.
According to Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) National Chair Omboko Milemba, the 10,000 teachers received Ksh.10,000 each as “transport reimbursement.” This sums up to Ksh.100 million, that the host, President William Ruto spent on reimbursements.
“Teachers never went to State House just for money. Teachers were going to look at their issues…Transport reimbursement for teachers was Ksh.10,000,” Milemba, who is also Emuhaya Member of Parliament told Citizen TV on Tuesday.
At State House, teachers not only walked away with a total of Ksh.100 million, as many things were promised to them.
The promises came fast and thick and the teachers seemed well pleased with themselves save for one thing, some of these promises were management or policy issues, which their employer, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) should have been the one doing.
Kenya’s general elections are within the next two years, as such, most political observers would not let this “Waalimu na Rias” forum go unchecked as they raised pertinent, issues which the executive said that encroached on the tuff of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
However, President Ruto had other ideas about the forum and described the meeting as “an opportunity to engage professionals on issues that directly affect the country’s future, rather than a political gathering.”
To forestall political insinuations concerning the meeting, the President was categorical that the conversation with teachers was to strengthen the role of teachers in shaping Kenya’s future, not to play politics, as others may have supposed.
“I called you here not because of politics but so that we can talk on matters of education and Kenya at large,” the president said. “I want you, through your officials, to address the matters concerning you that I can deal with as part of the Kenyan professional community.”
During the ‘Waalimu na Rais Forum,’ the president promised to do a number of things which did not sit well with observers in light of the powers and functions of the TSC, under which the recruitment, management and welfare of all teachers is vested in.
Many felt the President usurped the powers of the TSC in promising to promote special needs teachers by taking them one grade higher which in itself is a function of the TSC according to its internal policies and merit.
He further promised to hasten the National Social Security Funds (NSSF) benefits to teachers to be paid within ten working days and eventually to one day. Again, many felt is a function within purview of the TSC and he ought to have left the matter be dealt with administratively.
Further, President Ruto promised to soon switch the fixed Ksh.200 NSSF teachers’ contribution to a six per cent employee contribution and a matching six per cent from the government to guarantee a decent retirement package for teachers.
He also promised to review the current teachers’ medical cover, a function covered by the TSC, to ensure it is aligned with the current health needs of teachers.
He then promised to have a sessional paper submitted within 45 days to support proposed education reforms whose contents remain a mystery yet the teachers, as primary stakeholders should have been a party to this mooted policy paper, to guarantee a buy-in once it is introduced.
The Head of State also addressed the thorny issue of teacher promotions, noting that nearly 400,000 teachers are eligible for promotion, as stagnation has long weighed down the profession.
He challenged education stakeholders to urgently review the career progression guidelines so that teachers can be rewarded fairly and timely for their service.
The President also promised teachers they would be assigned at least twenty percent of houses within the affordable housing units and towards this end, he proposed a Memorandum of Understanding with the teachers be signed to seal the deal.
