Ruto to Host 10,000 Teachers in State House Talks on Education Reforms
By Sharon Atieno
Nairobi, Kenya – September 13, 2025 – President William Ruto is set to host 10,000 teachers at State House this Saturday in what has been described as a groundbreaking consultative meeting aimed at reshaping dialogue on the future of education in Kenya.
The high-profile event will bring together leaders from teachers’ unions and school heads’ associations in a rare show of unity, underscoring the government’s renewed commitment to listen to and engage with education stakeholders on issues that have long shaped the sector.
In preparation for the historic gathering, Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok chaired a two-hour planning meeting at Jogoo House on Wednesday. The session, attended by union leaders and representatives of school heads, finalized the composition of the delegation and agreed on the agenda for the meeting.
According to the plan, 3,300 delegates will represent the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), 2,000 from the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), 400 from the Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET), 2,300 from the Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA), and 2,000 from the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA).
The discussions are expected to focus on teachers’ welfare and working conditions, addressing staffing shortages, closing infrastructure gaps, and fast-tracking education reforms. Among the reforms on the table are the implementation of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum and the roll-out of the digital learning programme in public schools.
Another key agenda item will be strengthening partnerships between government, unions, and education associations to ensure sustainable reforms that support both teachers and learners.
Education leaders have welcomed the initiative, describing it as a landmark opportunity for teachers to engage directly with the President on matters central to their profession. They noted that the dialogue reflects a shift towards inclusivity and collaboration, giving teachers a stronger voice in shaping policies that impact classrooms across the country.
If successful, Saturday’s consultative forum could set a precedent for regular engagements between government and education stakeholders, building trust and fostering joint solutions to challenges in the sector.
The State House meeting is expected to conclude with a joint communiqué outlining agreed priorities and a roadmap for strengthening Kenya’s education system.
