"Si Mlikuwa Mnaimba Tutam?" Kenyans React As Ruto's Promise To Teachers Remain Unfulfilled Months After State House Meeting

The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has raised strong concerns over what it calls failure by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to implement key promises made to teachers by President William Ruto.

The union has warned that it may take action if the issues are not addressed urgently.

Speaking in Naivasha on Thursday, December 18, KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori said teachers are disappointed by the slow pace of implementation of agreements reached during a meeting between President Ruto and more than 10,000 teachers at State House in September 2025.

Misori said TSC was expected to move quickly to ensure the promises were fulfilled, but this has not happened.

One of the major concerns raised by the union is the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) cycle. According to Misori, President Ruto promised that future CBAs would run for two years instead of the usual four years.

This was meant to allow teachers to enjoy salary and welfare improvements faster. However, KUPPET says TSC has not taken any steps to make this promise a reality.

During the State House meeting, the President also pledged several welfare improvements for teachers.

These included the construction of 205 affordable housing units, faster processing of retirement benefits, and the employment of unemployed teachers aged 45 years and above.

He also promised that teachers serving under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) internship programme would be confirmed into permanent and pensionable terms.

Misori said none of these pledges have been implemented so far.

He revealed that TSC has not submitted a funding request to Parliament for the promotion of an additional 25,000 teachers, despite the President confirming the plan publicly.

He added that 20,000 teachers were also supposed to be converted to permanent and pensionable terms by the end of the year.

Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers, who are currently working under internship contracts, were expected to serve for two years before confirmation.

The government had allocated Ksh5.4 billion for their conversion, with assurance from Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi.

However, fears have emerged after reports indicated that TSC has renewed the contracts of the 20,000 teachers for another year.

KUPPET also accused Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga of failing to respond to letters seeking clarification on the promised housing units for teachers.

The union has now urged TSC to engage Parliament, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), and other relevant agencies to ensure all promises made to teachers are honoured without further delay.