President William Ruto has directed the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to increase the number of teachers eligible for promotion this year from 34,016 to 50,000, in what he said will be the largest teacher promotion exercise undertaken in a single year.
Speaking during the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebrations at Kasarani Gymnasium in Nairobi on Monday, Ruto said the Government would provide additional funding to facilitate the expanded promotion exercise.
The President said the move was part of commitments he made to teachers last year to improve their career progression and increase the number of promotions conducted annually.
“I made you three specific commitments: to review the career progression guidelines; to double the teacher promotions budget from Sh1 billion to Sh2 billion; and to promote more teachers every year,” Ruto said.
He said the Government had delivered on the first two commitments, with the Teachers Service Commission and teachers’ unions having completed consultations on new career progression guidelines, which are now awaiting approval by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.
The budget for teacher promotions has also been doubled from Sh1 billion to Sh2 billion.
Ruto said the TSC had already advertised 34,016 promotion opportunities but directed that the number be increased to 50,000.
“Today I am directing that this number be increased to 50,000, and the Government will provide the additional funding to make this possible. This will make it the single largest teacher promotion exercise undertaken in a single year.”
120,000 new teachers
The President also announced that the Government had recruited 100,000 teachers over the past four years, with another 20,000 expected to join by December.
This will bring the total number of new teachers recruited during the period to 120,000, which Ruto described as the largest expansion of Kenya’s teaching workforce in history.
He said the Government had also set aside Sh4.9 billion in the current budget to transition 20,000 contract teachers who have served for two years to permanent and pensionable terms from January 2027.
Education funding rises
Ruto said education funding had increased from Sh526 billion four years ago to Sh702 billion last year and Sh784.5 billion currently, making education the largest-funded sector in the national budget.
The President also cited investments in school infrastructure, saying more than 23,000 classrooms had been built across the country, while 1,600 laboratories were being equipped to support science and Senior School pathways.
He said more than 220,000 teachers had been retooled for Competency-Based Education, with an additional Sh952 million allocated this year for teacher capacity development.
The President also highlighted reforms in teachers’ healthcare, remuneration, housing and retirement benefits, saying these measures were aimed at strengthening the teaching profession and improving teachers’ welfare.
Ruto said the Government’s broader education reforms were intended to prepare learners for a changing economy, particularly through stronger emphasis on science, technology, engineering, mathematics and digital skills.
He challenged teachers to continuously update their skills and embrace technology as Kenya seeks to build a knowledge-driven economy.
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