President William Ruto is expected to host 10,000 teachers and education leaders at State House, Nairobi, tomorrow, Saturday, September 13, 2025, in what is projected to be one of the largest education sector gatherings in recent years.
The event comes at a time when teachers’ unions are pressing for urgent reforms to address long-standing grievances over stagnation, welfare, and career progression.
Interviews by Education News have revealed that some union officials have come up with a 14-point memorandum, as seen by Education News, which will be presented to the Head of State.
The strongly worded document highlights urgent concerns that require immediate presidential intervention to safeguard both teachers’ welfare and the future of Kenya’s education system.
The union states that these issues necessitate immediate presidential intervention to safeguard both teachers’ welfare and the future of Kenya’s education system.
According to resolutions from the planning committee, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) will send 3,300 delegates, while KUPPET will field 2,000 delegates. Four hundred delegates will represent the Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET).
Meanwhile, the Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA) will send 2,300 members, and the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) will bring in 2,000 representatives, bringing the total to exactly 10,000 participants.
Among the top grievances raised in the KUPPET memo is stagnation in promotions, which the union says has left many teachers stuck in the same job groups for more than a decade.
“Stagnation in various job groups has become the order of the day. Many teachers have remained in the same grade for over 10 years, not due to lack of merit, but because of systemic delays,” the memorandum reads.
The union also accused the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) of sidelining post-primary teachers.
“Secondary school teachers have consistently been sidelined when awarding promotional posts. The process must be transparent, fair, and inclusive,” the teachers demanded. KUPPET further insisted that promotions should not be pegged solely to vacancies.
“Promotions to administrative posts should not be tied strictly to the availability of vacancies. Teachers should be promoted based on merit and years of service,” the memo added.
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Another primary concern is the plight of acting teachers.
“Countless teachers are acting in administrative roles without the corresponding job groups. This amounts to exploitation and misuse of teachers,” KUPPET warned. The union went on to propose the scrapping of job groups C4, C5, and D1, arguing: “Job groups C4, C5, and D1 have created unnecessary stagnation. We propose that they either be scrapped altogether or converted into automatic promotion grades after three years of service.”
The memo also highlights inadequate allowances, noting that science teachers face unique hazards in laboratories. “Science teachers face unique occupational hazards in laboratories. They require a defined risk allowance,” the union argued. On rising commuter costs, it added: “The current commuter allowance is far below the real cost of transport, especially given the rising fuel prices. This allowance must be reviewed upwards.”
KUPPET also raised an alarm over health coverage.
“Teachers continue to suffer under unpredictable medical schemes. We strongly demand that the AoN Minet Kenya medical scheme be ring-fenced, secured, and improved,” the union stated. The issue of pensions was equally raised, with KUPPET noting: “Retired teachers still face undue exploitation, with some forced to spend more than Ksh. 200,000 to access benefits.”
The memo concludes with a direct appeal to the President: “Your Excellency, the teaching fraternity remains the backbone of Kenya’s education system. Addressing these issues will not only uplift teachers but also safeguard the future of our learners and our nation.”
Tomorrow’s meeting is expected to provide a platform for President Ruto to respond directly to these demands. Education stakeholders are watching closely, with many viewing the event as a potential turning point for the welfare of Kenya’s teachers and the direction of education reforms.
By Joseph Mambili
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