Junior Secondary School teachers in Kenya have protested against President William Ruto's announcement to confirm them as permanent after two years of internship. They claim this contradicts their original one-year contracts and demand immediate promotion. Backed by KUPPET, the educators are calling for autonomy and better pay amid rising unrest.
A potential crisis is brewing in Kenya's education sector as Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers rejected President William Ruto's directive on Saturday, November 15, 2025. The teachers took to the streets, accusing the government and Teachers Service Commission (TSC) of contradicting their signed contracts.
On Thursday, November 13, 2025, Ruto announced that JSS interns would receive permanent and pensionable contracts after two years of service. "We decided that the JSS interns would be hired on a permanent and pensionable basis after two years of service; no negotiation," the President stated, as part of efforts to improve education.
However, the teachers argue that their contracts from November last year specified a one-off, non-renewable 12-month internship from January 6 to December 1. "The contract that we signed last year November, indicated internship would be a one off non renewable program for 12 months from January 6 to December 1," one intern said. They accuse TSC of shifting goalposts and violating promotion guidelines, insisting that at least 20,000 teachers should already be confirmed.
Supported by the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), the protesters demand immediate permanent terms to raise their current Ksh17,000 salaries. They also seek full autonomy for JSS, arguing placement under primary schools disrupts co-curricular activities, administration, and management.
KUPPET Tharaka Nithi Secretary Patrick Gitonga highlighted the issue: "We want JSS teachers to be given autonomy so they can represent themselves; depending on other jurisdictions is affecting the conduct of their mandate."
Unrest is spreading beyond Meru and Tharaka Nithi, with the new academic year approaching in less than seven weeks. This echoes a 2024 strike that prompted the Budget Committee to direct TSC to hire all JSS interns for the 2024-2025 financial year.