KNUT Declares Support for Ruto’s 2027 Bid Following Salary Increments and Teacher Promotions
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has declared its support for President William Ruto’s re-election bid in 2027, citing recent government actions to address long-standing concerns affecting teachers, including salary increments, promotions, and new employment opportunities.
The declaration was made on Monday, January 26, during teachers’ grassroots elections held in Nandi County. Speaking at the event, KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyoo said teachers across the country had resolved to back President Ruto, arguing that his administration had demonstrated commitment to resolving disputes within the education sector.
Oyoo noted that recent engagements between teachers’ representatives and the President at State House had begun to yield tangible results, particularly in the areas of promotions and staffing.
“We, as the teachers in this country, commend the President for the review of the CBA cycle,” Oyoo said. “You are aware that promotion of teachers in this republic has taken another twist because many teachers have stagnated in one grade for quite a number of years.”
He said the government had set aside more than KSh 2 billion to support teacher promotions and the recruitment of additional teachers, easing pressure caused by staff shortages in public schools.
Oyoo further revealed that President Ruto had approved additional funding to expand the scope of promotions beyond earlier targets.
“The President directed that an additional KSh 1 billion be put in place so that instead of promoting 25,000 teachers, we promote 50,000 teachers,” he stated. “So who are you not to say thank you? As a union, we want to say thank you to the President and we will stand with him in 2027.”
The remarks come as the government continues to implement commitments reached during talks between President Ruto and teachers’ unions at State House in September 2025. Among the key pledges was the hiring of 25,000 additional teachers by January 2026, bringing the total number of teachers employed since 2022 to 100,000, in line with the government’s earlier promise.
Teachers are also benefiting from salary increments outlined in the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), valued at KSh 33.75 billion. The agreement was structured to be implemented in two phases, with the first phase taking effect in July 2025.
Under the initial phase, teachers began receiving salary increases ranging between 16 and 32 per cent, depending on job group. In addition, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) agreed to reduce the CBA implementation cycle from four years to three years, a move aimed at fast-tracking the realisation of negotiated benefits.
Beyond salaries and promotions, the government also pledged additional incentives for teachers, including access to affordable housing programmes and enhanced retirement benefits.
However, the public endorsement by KNUT follows earlier criticism from teachers’ unions over delays in implementing some of the agreed measures. In December 2025, unions accused the TSC of dragging its feet despite presidential assurances.
“What has surprised us is that the TSC, which is supposed to fast-track all the gains we secured with the President, has done very little,” said Akelo Misori, Secretary General of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers, during a media briefing late last year.
Education stakeholders say the coming months will be critical in determining whether all commitments are fully implemented, as teachers continue to monitor progress while engaging with the government and the commission.
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KNUT Declares Support for Ruto’s 2027 Bid Following Salary Increments and Teacher Promotions
