Ruto Approves Billions to Clear Teachers’ Salary Arrears and Medical Cover

Teachers across Kenya have received good news after President William Ruto approved a new budget aimed at solving long-standing financial issues in the education sector.

The President signed the Supplementary Appropriation Bill at the State House on Wednesday, April 8. This approval has unlocked billions of shillings to help pay salary gaps, improve medical cover, and clear pending arrears for teachers.

Under the new budget, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has been allocated Ksh24.2 billion. This money will mainly be used to cover salary shortages and provide better health insurance for teachers.

For many years, teachers have complained about delayed payments, poor medical cover, and low salaries. This new funding is expected to reduce those challenges and improve their working conditions.

In addition, the government has set aside Ksh3 billion to clear outstanding medical bills for teachers. This move comes at a time when teachers’ unions have been demanding better healthcare support for their members.

University students have also benefited from the new budget. The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has received an extra Ksh4.1 billion, increasing its total funding to Ksh45.6 billion. This will help more students access loans and continue with their studies.

To reduce frequent strikes in universities, the government has allocated Ksh3.88 billion to pay salary arrears for university staff. These arrears date back to the 2017–2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

The funding will also support education programs such as the Wings to Fly initiative through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.

More funds have also been directed to universities, with Ksh6 billion allocated to support institutions like Moi University and Kabarak University. Another Ksh1.5 billion has been given to the University Fund to improve stability in higher education institutions.

This latest move by the government is expected to bring relief to teachers and strengthen the education sector across the country.