President William Ruto has directed the recruitment of 600 teachers in Mandera County to address the persistent shortage of educators in northern Kenya caused by security challenges.
Speaking on Thursday, February 12, during the issuance of Nyota funds to local youth, the President said the move aims to ensure continuity of learning for students in areas where teachers from other regions have often sought transfers due to insecurity.
“Many teachers teaching in northern Kenya come from Kisumu, Eldoret, Siaya, Central, and Coast. Why shouldn’t we have teachers from northern Kenya?” Ruto asked.
YOU MAY LIKE: Insider Reveals Timeline of the Next ODM Leader Set to Be Ousted
He noted that insecurity disrupts education, as teachers frequently leave their posts during unrest, halting learning services.
To counter this, Ruto emphasized that recruiting local teachers would stabilise education.
“As a matter of affirmative action, for all the teachers who left here to be replaced, I have said we are hiring here in Mandera another 600 teachers to make sure they take charge of education in our primary and secondary schools,” he said.
He added, “Now we will have teachers who were born here.
Even if there are problems, they will stay here to make sure your children are taught.”
The directive comes after a January 2026 attack in which a teacher was killed by suspected Al-Shabaab militants, intensifying concerns over the safety of educators in the region.
YOU MAY LIKE: You Will Pay to Use Thika Super Highway — Mbadi Explains Why
Following the attack, teachers reportedly requested transfers citing security fears.
Ruto’s administration said the targeted recruitment will cushion schools against future disruptions and empower local communities by creating employment within the education sector.
This initiative is part of a larger government plan to hire 24,000 additional teachers by early 2026, bringing the total to over 100,000 since Ruto assumed office in 2022.
By prioritising teachers born in Mandera, the government seeks to ensure learning continues uninterrupted, even during periods of insecurity, and to strengthen education delivery across northern Kenya.
