The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) leadership from across the 21 branches of the Nyanza region convened for a crucial meeting with the Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo.
The meeting sought to discuss key issues affecting education, governance, and leadership development.
The Sunday engagement in Kisumu, which brought together representatives from all regional branches, provided a platform to deliberate on strategies to strengthen the education sector while fostering collaboration between teachers and the government.
During the meeting, Omollo emphasised the importance of leadership beyond union roles, urging participants to build their capacity in governance, management, and public service.
He noted that teachers play a critical role in shaping the country’s future, and their influence extends beyond classrooms to leadership positions at all levels.
“The leadership within this room is the foundation of tomorrow’s governance. From this team, we will see future members of Parliament, senators, governors, and other key decision-makers.”
“It is, therefore, our collective responsibility to engage meaningfully and advocate for policies that uplift both the education sector and national development,” the PS stated.
The discussions also touched on the strides made in education under President William Ruto's administration, including the recruitment of 76,000 teachers in two years an achievement requiring strong administrative coordination.
The PS acknowledged the challenges that remain, particularly in urban centers like Nairobi, where infrastructure struggles to keep up with growing student populations.
He highlighted the government’s commitment to affirmative action in such areas, calling for similar interventions in other underserved regions. Omollo also took the opportunity to commend teachers for their dedication, which has contributed to improved academic performance in schools.
He recognised their efforts in ensuring a smooth transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and emphasised the government’s continued commitment to supporting them in this journey.
He reaffirmed the government’s openness to stakeholder engagement in education and national development. He assured the KNUT leadership of his support in ensuring teachers’ welfare remains a priority while also encouraging them to take advantage of government programmes that promote capacity-building and community development.
The meeting underscored the need for continuous dialogue between education stakeholders and the government to address emerging challenges, ensure sustainable reforms and position teachers as key players in national development.
The PS pledged to champion policies that enhance the teaching profession, while KNUT leaders committed to collaborating with government agencies for the betterment of the sector.
Present in the meeting was Gem Member of Parliament Elisha Odhiambo, North Kanyamkago Ward MCA George Omamba, Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) MD Wycliff Ochiaga, Private Security Regulation Authority (PSRA) Phillip Okello, Executive Secretary KNUT Siaya Alex Owino, Executive Secretary KNUT Rongo Eunice Bosco Executive Secretary KNUT Kuria East Joseph Mangiteni, Executive Secretary KNUT Gucha Lucy Machuki, among other members from Nyanza KNUT
