HOMA BAY, Kenya – The ruling Kenya Kwanza administration has announced plans to employ an additional 24,000 teachers by January 2026.
According to the president, the move was necessitated by the need to support the needs of Kenya’s growing population.
“We have undertaken the largest teacher recruitment drive since independence, employing 76,000 new teachers over two years, and are on course to employ an additional 24,000 by January 2026,” said President Ruto.
The head of state who spoke during this year’s Madaraka Day national celebrations at the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay County revealed that his administration had also built more than 23,000 additional classrooms.
“This is aimed at easing pressure on existing infrastructure and shielding teachers and learners from the burden of overcrowded classrooms,” added President Ruto.
The Presidential Working Party on Education Reform
According to the president, even as Kenyans dedicate their efforts to nation-building, his government is also preparing Kenya to thrive in an increasingly competitive, complex future.
“This requires equipping our learners with the knowledge, skills, and mindset necessary to seize opportunities and contribute meaningfully to national development,” said President Ruto.
Guided by bold recommendations from the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform, the president stated that his administration is undertaking the most transformational shift of our education system in over six decades.
“We have successfully transitioned to a Competency-Based Education system, moving away from rote learning towards a dynamic, skills-based approach aligned with 21st-century needs and our socio-economic goals,” he added.
Why the government is investing in schools’ infrastructure
President Ruto further said that his government’s next priority is to ensure every school has the infrastructure and equipment needed to support both learners and teachers.
“At the tertiary level, we have revolutionised education financing through a new student-centred funding model that ensures the sustainability of our TVETS and universities while expanding access for learners,” added the head of state.
Today, President Ruto reiterated that students from poor families get up to 90% of government scholarships, with parents paying only a nominal fee.
“In recognition of the transformative power of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in tackling pressing socio-economic challenges such as youth unemployment, skills gaps, and poverty, the government is aggressively scaling up investment in technical training,” he said.
In his Madaraka Day address, President Ruto also disclosed that TVET college enrolment is set to grow fourfold, from 500,000 in 2023 to 2 million by the end of this year, equipping a new generation with the skills and knowledge needed to drive Kenya’s industrialisation, innovation, and economic competitiveness.
