The government will recruit 24,000 new teachers by January 2026 in a major effort to address the ongoing teacher shortage in public schools, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has announced.
Speaking during World Teachers’ Day celebrations at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, CS Ogamba said the recruitment is part of the government’s wider efforts to improve the quality of education across the country.
"The government has employed a historic 76,000 teachers in two years. A further 24,000 teachers are to be employed by January 2026, making a total of 100,000 teachers in a record three years," said Ogamba.
The CS noted that many public schools continue to face high student-to-teacher ratios, particularly in remote and marginalised areas.
"We are committed to bridging the teacher shortage gap to ensure that every Kenyan child receives quality education," he said.
He added that the planned recruitment will reduce pressure on existing staff and improve learning outcomes.
According to the Ministry of Education, the hiring process will prioritise counties most affected by teacher shortages and will consider subject-specific needs, particularly in secondary schools.
This year’s World Teachers’ Day was marked under the theme "The teachers we need for the education we want: The global imperative to reverse the teacher shortage."
The latest move aligns with earlier remarks by President William Ruto, who said the government is making steady progress in addressing the long-standing teacher shortage. He announced that an additional 20,000 teachers will be hired in January 2026.
Speaking during the 2025 Labour Day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens on May 1, the President said his administration had reduced the teacher shortage, which stood at 116,000 in 2022, by employing over 76,000 teachers over the last two years.
"We have set aside Sh2.4 billion to hire an additional 20,000 intern teachers starting January 2026," Ruto stated.
He also noted that the government has allocated Sh1.6 billion for teacher capacity building and Sh1 billion for the promotion of teachers.
"These investments have improved student-teacher ratios, enhanced literacy and numeracy outcomes, and created stable employment in communities across the country," he emphasised.
According to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), the country faced a shortage of over 100,000 teachers as of 2022, placing immense pressure on the existing workforce.
The Ruto administration has made resolving this issue a priority, with commitments not only to expand teacher recruitment but also to improve teacher welfare and working conditions.
