President William Ruto on Monday, October 5, 2026, led the national celebrations marking World Teachers’ Day at the Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi, bringing together teachers, government officials, education stakeholders, teacher unions and representatives of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). The celebrations provided an opportunity for the country to recognise the important role teachers play in educating learners, shaping communities and preparing young Kenyans for the future. 

This year’s World Teachers’ Day is being celebrated under the theme “Standing with teachers: 60 years of protecting the profession, advancing its status and shaping our futures.” The theme is particularly significant because 2026 marks 60 years since the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. Globally, the day is observed every October 5 to celebrate teachers and highlight the need to improve their professional status, working conditions and support. 

President Ruto’s presence at Kasarani placed teachers and their contribution to the country’s development at the centre of the national conversation. The event also provided an opportunity for the government to highlight measures it says are aimed at improving the welfare of teachers and strengthening Kenya’s education system.

Ruto addresses teachers on retirement benefits

One of the major issues highlighted by President Ruto during the celebrations was the delay that teachers and other public servants have experienced when accessing retirement benefits.

Ruto announced that the government was working towards ensuring that teachers receive their retirement benefits within 10 days of retirement. According to the President, the agencies responsible for processing retirement benefits had given an assurance that the new arrangement would be operational within the next three months. 

“The agencies responsible have assured me that within the next three months, we will be able to pay a teacher’s retirement benefit within ten days of their retirement,” Ruto said. 

The President said the reforms are intended to end the long waiting periods that have forced retirees to move from one government office to another while trying to access benefits they had earned during their years of service.

The development is significant for teachers because retirement is an important stage in the careers of educators who have spent decades serving the country. Ruto emphasised that teachers should not be left struggling after completing their service.

Digital system to speed up payments

Ruto linked the planned faster payment of retirement benefits to the Pension Management Information System (PMIS), which was rolled out on July 1 by the Teachers Service Commission and the National Treasury.

The system is intended to make the processing of retirement benefits more efficient by improving the management and sharing of pension information. The President said government officials are currently uploading records into the system, a process expected to reduce delays and make it easier for retired teachers to access their money. 

The move reflects a wider government effort to use digital systems to improve public service delivery. For teachers, the success of the system could reduce paperwork and the amount of time required to process retirement claims.

Government highlights investment in teachers

The Kasarani celebrations also came at a time when the government is emphasising investment in education and human capital as part of Kenya’s development agenda.

Ruto has previously stated that education is central to Kenya’s transformation and that the country needs a highly skilled workforce capable of competing in the global economy. In July, he said the government had advertised 20,000 additional teaching positions, bringing the total number of teachers recruited over three years to 120,000. 

The President has also repeatedly linked education to employment, technology and economic transformation, arguing that Kenya must prepare its young people with the skills needed for a rapidly changing world.

At the Kasarani celebration, therefore, teachers were being recognised not only as classroom instructors but also as key players in the country's long-term development.

TSC honours outstanding teachers

The World Teachers’ Day event also featured recognition of outstanding educators through the Teachers Service Commission's Roll of Honour.

The recognition is intended to celebrate teachers whose work has gone beyond their normal responsibilities and produced a measurable impact among learners and communities. The selection process involved nominations and assessment designed to identify educators who have demonstrated exceptional commitment and performance. 

The recognition of teachers is particularly important because educators frequently work under demanding conditions while remaining responsible for academic performance, discipline, mentorship and the overall development of learners.

The ceremony therefore served as both a celebration and an opportunity to remind the country that the teaching profession requires continued investment and respect.

Ogamba addresses striking university lecturers

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba also used the World Teachers’ Day celebrations to address the ongoing university lecturers’ strike.

Ogamba called on university lecturers and their unions to return to work, saying the government had cleared outstanding arrears arising from previous collective bargaining agreements. He said arrears under the 2017–2021 and 2021–2025 CBAs had been fully cleared. 

The CS urged university staff to reciprocate what he described as the government's commitment to their welfare by complying with court orders and ending the strike.

He further said the government was ready to negotiate future collective bargaining agreements, including the 2025–2029 CBA. 

The issue of lecturers' welfare added another dimension to the celebrations, demonstrating that discussions around teachers' welfare extend beyond primary and secondary school educators to the wider education sector.

A day to recognise teachers

The Kasarani celebrations come as Kenya joins countries around the world in honouring teachers. UNESCO notes that World Teachers’ Day is not only about celebrating educators but also about reflecting on the support they require to effectively perform their duties. 

Teachers remain responsible for developing learners academically, socially and emotionally. Their work influences future professionals, leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists, health workers and other members of society.

The 2026 theme therefore places particular emphasis on “standing with teachers” at a time when educators face changing demands brought about by technology, evolving education systems and increasing expectations from society.

Ruto's message to teachers

Ruto's message at Kasarani was largely centred on improving the welfare of teachers and ensuring that their service to the country is properly recognised. His announcement on retirement benefits within 10 days was one of the most significant commitments from the celebrations.

The President also reiterated the importance of education to Kenya's development. His previous remarks on education have stressed that the country cannot afford to underinvest in human capital.

“Education is key to equipping our human resource to be top quality,” Ruto said during a July education-related event, while emphasising the government's commitment to skills development and investment in education. 

The President also previously argued that failing to invest in education could prove more costly to the country, saying: “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” 

Those remarks underline the administration's position that education should remain a central pillar of Kenya's development strategy.