KNUT Boss Hails President Ruto as “Perfect Teacher,” Calls for Regular Teacher–State Forums

Nairobi, Kenya — 2025-09-12 19:40 EAT. Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary-General Collins Oyuu has praised President William Ruto’s leadership, describing him as a “perfect teacher” during a major gathering at State House attended by more than 10,000 education representatives.

The Latest

• Oyuu’s remarks: “When we went to college, no one taught like this man. Your Excellency, you are a perfect teacher,” Oyuu said to applause, commending the president’s hands-on engagement with education stakeholders.

• Proposal: He urged the creation of a biennial Walimu na Rais (“Teachers and the President”) forum to institutionalise dialogue between teachers and the presidency.

• Key message: Peace, stability, and open dialogue, he said, are essential for better learning outcomes and education reforms.

Context in Brief

• The meeting comes amid debates on education reforms, capitation funding, and teacher welfare, where unions have demanded structured negotiations with the government.

• The administration has launched outreach efforts to manage disputes and improve communication with unions as part of wider education sector reforms.

Voices and Stakeholders

• Collins Oyuu, KNUT: Praised Ruto’s teaching style and leadership, pledged union cooperation but signalled ongoing advocacy for teacher interests.

• President William Ruto: Has positioned his administration as reform-oriented, promising capitation reviews and modernised teacher training approaches in previous forums.

• Teachers’ associations: Have long demanded structured engagement to avoid ad hoc negotiations during strikes or policy rollouts.

Implications

• Union–government relations: Oyuu’s comments suggest a possible thaw between unions and the government after years of tension over pay, conditions, and curriculum changes.

• Policy collaboration: A regular forum could offer unions early input on reforms like the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and teacher deployment.

• Political optics: Praise for Ruto may signal unions’ willingness to align with the administration, at least on dialogue mechanisms, even as bargaining over salaries and staffing continues.

What to Watch

• Whether the Walimu na Rais forum proposal is formally adopted in government–union agreements.

• Outcomes of upcoming capitation funding talks and teacher transfer policy reviews.

• Reactions from other unions, especially those historically critical of government policy.