President William Ruto has announced plans to move 20,000 teachers who have served on contract for two years to permanent and pensionable terms from January 2027.
The government has set aside Ksh4.9 billion for the conversion, in a move expected to improve job security for teachers who have been serving under temporary contracts.
Ruto made the announcement on Monday, October 5, 2026, during the World Teachers' Day celebrations at Kasarani Gymnasium in Nairobi, where he outlined measures being taken by his administration to strengthen the teaching profession.
"This year's budget also provides Ksh4.9 billion to move 20,000 contract teachers, who have served for two years, to permanent and pensionable terms from January 2027," the President said.
The announcement comes as the government continues to expand the teaching workforce to address shortages in public schools.Ruto sad his administration had recruited 100,000 teachers during its first four years, compared with an average of about 5,000 teachers recruited annually in previous years.
He said a further 20,000 teachers would be recruited by December, bringing the total number of new teachers recruited under his administration to 120,000.
The President described the expansion as the largest increase in Kenya's teaching workforce.
He said the government inherited a teacher shortage of 116,000, with recruitment having failed to keep pace with rising enrolment in schools.
The additional teachers have also been deployed to support the implementation of Competency-Based Education, including the transition of learners through Junior and Senior School.
The planned conversion of the 20,000 contract teachers will give beneficiaries greater employment security and access to benefits attached to permanent and pensionable employment.
The President said investing in teachers was necessary because no education system could succeed without a sufficient and well-supported teaching workforce.He also linked the recruitment and conversion programme to the government's wider efforts to improve the quality of education and strengthen human capital.
The government has in recent years relied on contract teachers to address staffing gaps in schools, particularly as enrolment has increased and new levels of the Competency-Based Education system have been introduced.
Ruto said the government would continue to invest in teachers through recruitment, promotions, training, healthcare, remuneration, housing and pension reforms.
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