NAIROBI, Kenya — Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has lauded President William Ruto for overseeing the recruitment of more than 100,000 teachers since assuming office, describing the achievement as unprecedented in Kenya’s history.
Speaking on Friday, Wandayi said the current administration had recruited teachers at a pace unmatched by previous governments, significantly boosting staffing levels in public schools.
“Allow me, Your Excellency, Mr. President, to affirm what my friend Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo stated earlier: you are the first president to employ the highest number of teachers in Kenya’s history,” Wandayi said.
He contrasted the current recruitment drive with previous administrations, noting that earlier governments employed an average of about 5,000 teachers annually.
“In the past, the government would employ a maximum of about 5,000 teachers a year. In under three and a half years, President William Ruto has employed over 100,000 teachers—and that count continues, with a commitment to hire another 20,000 next year,” he said.
Wandayi said the continued recruitment of teachers demonstrates the government’s commitment to strengthening the education sector by addressing longstanding teacher shortages and improving learning outcomes across the country.
He added that if the current pace of recruitment is sustained, Kenya’s education system stands to benefit significantly over the next several years.
“Imagine the total number of teachers who will be employed in this country by the end of his 10-year tenure,” he said.
His remarks echoed those of Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Dr Raymond Omollo, who earlier said the government had recruited 100,000 teachers over the past three years and allocated resources to employ an additional 20,000 during the current financial year.