- Thousands of newly recruited intern teachers are set for permanent employment under the 2026/27 Budget.
- Treasury says the move will help address staffing shortages and improve learning outcomes.
- The conversion comes as the government expands Competency-Based Education and Junior Secondary Schools.
By Joseph Mambili
A total of 24,000 newly recruited intern teachers will be converted to permanent and pensionable terms from July 2027 under plans unveiled in the 2026/27 Budget, offering fresh hope to thousands of teachers serving on internship contracts.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi made the announcement while presenting the FY 2026/27 Budget Statement in Parliament on Thursday, June 11, 2026.
“Further, the newly recruited 24,000 intern teachers will be converted into permanent and pensionable in July 2027,” Mbadi told Parliament.
The announcement comes on top of a separate government commitment to convert 20,000 intern teachers to permanent and pensionable terms from January 2027. Treasury has allocated KSh 4.9 billion to facilitate that transition.
To support the internship programme, the government has also set aside KSh 8.2 billion for intern teachers in the 2026/27 financial year.
The planned conversion of the 24,000 teachers is expected to significantly reduce uncertainty among young educators while strengthening staffing levels in schools across the country.
The move comes at a time when demand for teachers continues to rise following the rollout of Competency-Based Education (CBE) and the expansion of Junior Secondary Schools.
According to the Budget Statement, the government has recruited 100,000 teachers over the last three years to strengthen teaching capacity and improve learner outcomes.
Mbadi said the government remains committed to investing in education as a key driver of national development.
“Kenya’s future depends on developing strong human capital. To this end, we will continue to strengthen quality learning, training and research, promote equity and inclusivity, scale up investment in education and fortify the system against emerging technological and labour market shifts,” he said.
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Education stakeholders have welcomed the announcement, saying permanent employment will improve teacher morale, enhance job security and support effective curriculum implementation in schools.
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