Ruto to hire 120,000 teachers in three years

President William Ruto’s administration plans to hire at least 120,000 teachers in the next three financial years.

Budget plans show that 6,000 teachers would be hired on permanent and pensionable terms and another 6,000 as interns.

The teachers would be hired for primary schools under the Kenya Primary Education Equity in Learning Program.

Another 108,000 would be hired in the next three financial years under the secondary education quality improvement project.

The education sector working report shows that 18,000 would be hired on permanent and pensionable terms next financial year, and a similar number would be hired in the subsequent two fiscal years.

The other 18,000 would be hired as interns should Treasury approve the budget proposal by the education stakeholders.

Treasury disclosures show that a similar number is planned for fiscal years 2026-27 and 2027-28.

Roads, railways, water, housing, modern markets and public Wi-Fi are also among the priority projects Ruto is banking on to seal his legacy in the first term.

But most of these ventures were affected by budget shortfalls, following the collapse of the Finance Bill, 2024.

It remains to be seen how the Ruto team will handle taxation in the next financial year, with some of the ambitious projects back on the cards. 

Treasury disclosures show an unrelenting Kenya Kwanza seeks to construct 1,098km of new roads in the period.

It has emerged that the Ruto team seeks to fast-track the first phase of the Nairobi Railway City project and complete construction of the 12.5Km Riruta–Ngong rail line.

The government further intends to complete the 2.8km meter gauge railway link connecting the Mombasa SGR terminus to the Mombasa MGR station.

At least five new SGR locomotives will be acquired in the next two financial years, according to the plans by the infrastructure sector working group.

Ruto’s team further seeks to acquire a ferry for Lake Victoria as well as complete the construction of a control tower at Kisumu international airport.

The government will also automate and upgrade nine motor vehicle inspection centres and establish five new ones in various counties.

Budget plans show President Ruto’s team has set aside resources for a maritime search and rescue centre in Kisumu.

The government, the plans for the next three financial years show, intends to construct 217,654 affordable housing units, 80,909 social housing units and 65,297 institutional housing units.

Ruto has maintained his focus on the affordable housing plan despite heavy resistance by Kenyans and pressure groups.

In line with its promise to traders, the Kenya Kwanza government plans to construct 505 markets across the country.

At least 44 footbridges are also planned across the country to facilitate access to social amenities, as well as five jetties and 5,800 meters of seawall.

President Ruto's team further seeks to install 38,871km of the backbone optic fibre network and provide internet connectivity to 44,575 public institutions.

In the works is also a plan to install 18,510 public Wi-Fi hotspots, with Treasury indicating that 13,800 government services would be fully onboarded to the eCitizen platform.

Kenya Kwanza seeks to complete the installation infrastructure at Konza Technopolis, complete the rollout of National Digital Signal Coverage and install 42 KBC stations with solar power.

President Ruto further plans to complete Talanta Sports City in the year starting July 1 as well as complete the upgrade of Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani to CAF/Fifa standards.

Budget reports show Sports Kenya has committed to complete Nyayo and Kipchoge Keino stadiums upgrade within the coming financial year.

On electricity, Kenya Kwanza says it will generate 170MW of power and connect it to the electricity grid as well as drill 34 geothermal wells.

Plans are also in the works for constructing 1,742Km of transmission lines and 21 transmission substations and another 1,050Km of distribution lines and 33 distribution substations.

In line with his promise to connect more Kenyans to the grid, the government says 1,440,000 new customers would be targeted in the coming spending year.

An additional 1,080 public facilities would also be connected to the national electricity grid within the period under review.

Budget plans also reveal that 19,500 street lighting points will be put up, as well as biogas plants for 55 institutions and 1,800 households.

Ruto’s team seeks to provide clean cooking gas to 600 public learning institutions and distribute 6kg LPG cylinders to 210,000 low-income households.

The President last month launched cooking gas for institutions and directed schools to go slow on the use of wood fuel.

He said the project will be primarily funded by the private sector, the aim being to ensure schools have access to clean energy.

“We are launching a government project that will ensure 11,000 schools in the country are connected to gas to end the use of firewood and charcoal,” he said.

To further the tree planting drive, about six million trees are planned for the next budget year, and eight million in each of the subsequent years.

Ruto’s team has also budgeted to implement Itare Dam by 35 per cent, with the project envisioned to be 70 per cent complete by the fiscal year 2027-28.

At least 500,000 acres will be put under irrigation as per the plan, with a view to increase rice production by 250,000 tonnes and maize by 10,000 tonnes.

The government further budgets to collect about Sh17 billion in mining royalties and increase revenue from national parks to Sh8 billion.

Jobs are also lined up in the police and prison services, as well as in the health sector.

The estimates show that the ministries under the 10 sectors within the budget intend to spend about Sh2 trillion.

The proposals inform the Budget Policy Statement, which the National Treasury is set to introduce during the month – or at least by the end of February.