Nairobi: The Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET) has demanded immediate implementation of a government promise to promote teachers, 11 months after the pledge was made at State House.
According to Kenya News Agency, KUSNET National Chairman Amos Karanja stated that President William Ruto directed in September 2025 that teachers be awarded an additional job group. However, this directive remains unimplemented, thus denying teachers the expected salary increments.
Karanja emphasized that teachers were informed they would be moved up by one job group following discussions held in September last year. However, the teachers have not benefited from the proposed promotion, raising concern among members and prompting the union to urge the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to fast-track the process.
KUSNET is demanding the implementation of both the first and second job grades promised to Special Needs Education (SNE) teachers, with Karanja noting that the President had acknowledged the demanding nature of their work. The union is calling for the first grade to be implemented within three months as preparations for the second one continue.
Accompanied by KUSNET First National Trustee Jackson Odindo, Karanja urged the commission to implement the process before the end of next month. Odindo, who is also the head teacher of Hope Special School for the Mentally Challenged, highlighted the need for additional support for pupils with special needs.
Odindo called on Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi to release funds to facilitate the promotions and challenged TSC leadership to act with urgency. The union had also addressed the issue of a 2018 career progression agreement that had not been implemented when they met the President at State House.
KUSNET General Secretary James Torome mentioned that more than 10,000 teachers attended a meeting at State House on September 13, where they presented several grievances to the President. Torome stated that TSC had prepared the necessary implementation matrix and forwarded it to the National Treasury, but the process had stalled.
Torome called on President Ruto to intervene and engage the Treasury over the matter, warning that frustration among SNE teachers was mounting. He also mentioned that teachers had requested a review of the Sh20,000 guidance allowance paid to teachers living with disabilities but noted that no meeting had been convened by TSC to discuss the proposal.
KUSNET vowed to continue pressing the government to implement the promised reforms, insisting that SNE teachers should be given better recognition and improved working conditions due to the specialized support they provide to learners living with disabilities.
