Ruto announces that intern teachers will be confirmed after two years as Kenya targets hiring 100,000 new teachers by January 2026.
Kitui, Kenya – President William Ruto has confirmed that all teachers serving under the internship program will be automatically absorbed into permanent and pensionable employment after two years.
Speaking at the Kitui State Lodge, Ruto said that when he came into office, he found a severe shortage of teachers in public schools. “There was a huge gap of teachers across Kenya. My administration has worked hard to bridge this gap,” he said.
The government has so far hired thousands of new teachers and is on track to reach 100,000 by January 2026, fulfilling a major campaign promise.
Internship Program Creating Hope for Teachers
President Ruto said there are currently around 300,000 trained but unemployed teachers in Kenya. To address this, the government introduced an internship program allowing them to gain teaching experience while earning stipends.
“After completing the two-year internship, teachers will automatically transition to permanent and pensionable terms,” he declared. “There will be no more negotiations after two years.”
Benefits of the Program
The internship program not only addresses unemployment but also improves education delivery. By deploying interns to schools with teacher shortages, the government ensures better teacher-learner ratios and smoother implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
The President’s assurance that intern teachers will be confirmed after two years brings relief to thousands of educators. With 100,000 new jobs on the horizon, Kenya’s education sector is set for a major transformation.
