President William Ruto has announced that the government will employ an additional 20,000 teachers in January as part of efforts to address the teacher-to-learner ratio gap.
This move is aimed at ensuring that all Kenyans, particularly those in rural areas and informal urban settlements, can access quality education.
“Many schools across Kenya still face significant gaps in education, depriving many children of the opportunity to reach their full potential,” he said.
In addition to recruiting 20,000 new teachers, the government will also hire 46,000 intern teachers who have served for two years, offering them permanent and pensionable positions.
Speaking on Thursday at State House, Nairobi, during the Gold Award presentation of the President’s Award Kenya, President Ruto emphasized the importance of human capital as Kenya’s greatest asset. He highlighted the need to continuously enhance it through education, training, and skills development.
“As a former Cabinet Minister for Higher Education, I understand the value of education and the importance of utilizing every available resource to ensure we get it right,” he said.
The President noted that the education budget has increased by KSh127 billion during his two years in office. He added that the government is also providing additional resources for university and technical education through a new student-centered funding model.
During the ceremony, 1,517 Gold Award recipients, who have excelled in various fields, received certificates of commendation from the President. The President’s Award Kenya program currently engages over 138,000 young Kenyans, with a target of reaching one million youth in the next five years.
“We are committed to providing more opportunities for our youth, especially those between the ages of 14 and 24, to participate in this program,” said President Ruto.
He urged parents to take an active role in their children’s development, emphasizing the importance of shaping their character and integrity rather than leaving this responsibility solely to schools.
The President also reiterated his commitment to eliminating slums through the Affordable Housing Programme.
“By God’s grace, within the next 15 years, we will have eradicated slums in Kenya. We are committed to ensuring that all citizens have access to decent housing,” he said.
Under this initiative, the government is constructing 15,000 housing units in Mukuru kwa Njenga and 4,000 in Kibra, Nairobi. Nationally, 120,000 units are being built under the Affordable Housing Programme, creating 160,000 job opportunities.
The event was attended by Cabinet Secretaries Kipchumba Murkomen (Sports and Youth Affairs) and Julius Ogamba (Education), as well as Principal Secretaries Ishmael Madey (Youth Affairs) and Belio Kipsang (Basic Education). Dr. Dominic Wamugunda, Chairperson of the Board of President’s Award Kenya, was also present.
