Teachers who gathered at State House, Nairobi, on September 13 left with mixed feelings after meeting President William Ruto.
While they received a stipend of KSh 10,000 each, the process exposed challenges that overshadowed the event.
Thousands of teachers had traveled from across the country, some arriving on Friday evening while others came early Saturday morning.
The meeting with the president began in the afternoon and ended around 8 p.m.
Afterwards, teachers were asked to queue for their allowances. Many waited in line until late in the night.
Complaints quickly surfaced. Some said the stipend was too little considering the money and time they had spent on travel.
Others were frustrated by the long queues and poor coordination.
“I cannot return to Kakamega today, I have to sleep here and travel tomorrow. This trip has not been worth it,” one teacher said while waiting to be paid.
Reports indicated that the government spent close to KSh 100 million to host the teachers, covering food, logistics, and allowances.
Union officials, who were part of the organizing team, were also reported to have received higher payments ranging between KSh 100,000 and KSh 180,000 each.
Despite the logistical challenges, some positive outcomes were noted. Teachers’ unions—KNUT and KUPPET—presented demands to the president regarding medical insurance.
They argued that the current cover under Minet Kenya provided fewer benefits compared to schemes enjoyed by other public servants.
President Ruto agreed that the issue needed attention and promised a review of the contract before renewal.
This development gave teachers some relief, as over 400,000 TSC-employed educators depend on the scheme.
For years, complaints have been raised about delayed services, limited hospital access, and inadequate benefits.
The government had previously attempted to move teachers to the Social Health Insurance (SHA), but the idea was rejected.
The State House meeting was therefore a blend of hope and hardship.
Teachers left Nairobi with cash in their pockets but also with memories of long queues, hunger, and poor coordination.
At the same time, the promise of an improved health cover gave them a reason to remain hopeful.
The gathering has sparked debate about whether such allowances are the right way to engage professionals or whether structured policy changes would serve them better.
