"I Wish I Had Not Gone" Teachers Admit State House Visit Came With Cash But Also Alot Of Struggles

Teachers who visited President William Ruto at State House in Nairobi on September 13 found themselves in a situation that brought both relief and frustration. 

While they were each given a stipend of KSh 10,000, the process of accessing the money left many exhausted and dissatisfied.

The meeting drew thousands of teachers from across the country, with some traveling overnight to reach Nairobi. 

After the president’s address in the afternoon, teachers were directed to collect lunch before joining queues for their allowances. 

By late evening, many were still waiting in line, with some admitting they had no option but to spend the night in the city before returning home.

Several attendees openly complained that the stipend was too small compared to the costs they had incurred. 

“I have not got the value of my trip. I regret coming,” said one teacher who had traveled from western Kenya. 

Others pointed to poor coordination, noting that the long queues caused tension despite payments being arranged in alphabetical order.

Estimates suggest that the government spent close to KSh 100 million to organize the meeting, which covered transport logistics, meals, and stipends. 

Reports further indicated that union leaders walked away with higher payouts ranging between KSh 100,000 and KSh 180,000.

Despite these concerns, the gathering was not without gains. 

Leaders of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) presented demands to the president regarding medical insurance. 

They argued that the cover provided by Minet Kenya offered fewer benefits compared to packages available to other civil servants.

In response, President Ruto acknowledged the shortcomings and assured the educators that the scheme would be reviewed. 

More than 400,000 teachers employed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) depend on the current cover, which has long been criticized for limited services and slow claim processing. 

The promise of improvement therefore came as a welcome gesture.

The State House event has since stirred debate in the education sector. 

While teachers left with cash in their pockets, the experience of queuing for hours and the feeling of inadequate compensation left a bitter taste.