NAIROBI, Kenya — The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced that only 30,000 teachers will be promoted this year, a sharp reduction from the 50,000 slots previously promised by President William Ruto.
Acting CEO Eveleen Mitei disclosed the figure on May 13 during a session with the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Education.
Broken Promise
The cut of 20,000 promotion slots for the post-July 2026 cycle has surprised teachers, who had anticipated a larger number after the budget was doubled from Sh1 billion to Sh2 billion for the 2026/2027 financial year.
“Teachers were warming up for 50,000 slots based on the President’s word. To hear that Sh2 billion only covers 30,000 people is a shock to the system,” said a Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Assistant Treasurer after the session.
Stagnation Fears
The decision has fuelled fears that existing delays in teacher promotions will continue, as educators have long decried what they describe as mass stagnation.
Regional Disparities
Committee members raised concerns over regional disparities in promotions, calling on TSC to ensure fairness, transparency, and timely implementation.
The committee has directed TSC to submit its Teachers’ Progression Guidelines for formal review.
TSC Defence
TSC said the current funding will only cover 30,000 promotions, with the final number depending on vacancies created through retirements, resignations, and other exits.
The commission defended its merit-based scoring system, saying it prioritises long-serving and senior teachers to address backlogs.
However, younger and mid-career teachers argue that the system slows their career progression and limits advancement opportunities.
Fluctuating Trends
Promotion trends under the current administration have been inconsistent. While this year’s target is lower than anticipated, it exceeds the 21,313 promotions in August 2025.
In December 2022, 14,034 teachers were promoted, rising to 36,275 in September 2023 before dropping to 25,633 in 2024.
Teachers remain on standby, awaiting clarity as Parliament reviews the progression guidelines.
