Some 10,000 teachers will tomorrow walk through the gates of State House at the invitation of the President. On the surface, it looks like a ceremonial gathering, an act of patriotism in honour of the Head of State. But beneath the pomp and photo opportunities lies a rare moment that could redefine how teachers are seen, heard and valued in Kenya. Coming in the wake of World Teachers’ Day, the timing is symbolic, almost poetic. It is as if the nation is being reminded that teachers are not just classroom figures – they are the heartbeat of nation’s progress.
This visit should not be reduced to applause, chants or stage-managed smiles. It should be seized as an opportunity for teachers to speak for the over 400,000 colleagues they represent. Those selected to stand at State House tomorrow are carrying the hopes, frustrations and aspirations of an entire profession. Their responsibility is immense: they must turn this symbolic honour into a platform for real influence.
Teachers have always been the invisible architects of every profession. Doctors, engineers, leaders, innovators – all pass through the hands of teachers. Yet, teaching continues to be undervalued, its practitioners often overworked and underappreciated. Tomorrow, before the highest office in the land, teachers must remind the leadership that to invest in teachers is to invest in the future of Kenya. They must say it not with anger or confrontation, but with clarity and conviction.
ALSO READ:
This visit is also an opportunity to humanize the challenges that teachers face daily. Policy documents and reports often reduce education to numbers, targets, and pass rates. But behind every statistic is a teacher improvising learning aids because textbooks are insufficient, a teacher managing over-enrolled classrooms, a teacher grappling with reforms that arrive faster than training. Sharing such lived realities can shift the President’s perspective from abstract policies to the heartbeat of classrooms.
The conversation must also move beyond curriculum to the welfare of teachers. Delayed promotions, stagnated job groups, heavy workloads and inadequate medical cover are not minor inconveniences – they are wounds that quietly bleed morale. If Kenya truly wants quality education, then the teacher must first feel dignified and valued. Tomorrow’s gathering offers the chance to say this, not as a list of demands, but as a call to action for building a motivated and empowered teaching force.
Too often, the relationship between government and teachers has been adversarial, defined by strikes, threats and endless court cases. Tomorrow could mark a turning point. Teachers should use the State House visit to project themselves not as adversaries but as partners in nation building. Respectful, firm, and visionary engagement with the President could open a new chapter where difficult conversations about education happen through dialogue, not protest.
Equally important, this visit must showcase teachers as more than implementers. They are innovators, community leaders and nation builders. Stories of resilience – like schools thriving with minimal resources or teachers transforming learners in marginalized areas – should be highlighted. By presenting solutions rather than complaints, teachers can shift the national narrative from pity to admiration, from seeing teachers as passive victims to recognizing them as powerful agents of change.
ALSO READ:
Governor Ntutu opens Nkaroni VTC to boost youth skills in Narok
And when the event ends, those who walked through the gates of State House must carry the spirit back to their schools. They should not view it as a personal privilege but as a collective honour. They must share the experience with colleagues, reassure them that their voices were carried to the highest office and inspire them to take pride in their calling.
Ultimately, this State House visit is not just a courtesy call. It is a test. A test of whether teachers can rise above symbolism to claim their rightful space in shaping the nation’s destiny. Coming so soon after World Teachers’ Day, it is a reminder that celebrating teachers must move beyond speeches and flowers into policies that dignify and empower the profession. If the 10,000 teachers grasp this moment, tomorrow will not just be another event in the calendar – it will be remembered as the day teachers stepped into State House and walked out with renewed power, purpose and pride.
By Ashford Kimani
Ashford teaches English and Literature in Gatundu North Sub-county and serves as Dean of Studies.
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
