Nairobi Women Rep Esther Muthoni Passaris has praised President William Ruto for his decision to reserve 20 per cent of the government’s Affordable Housing units for teachers.

Passaris, a member of the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Housing, described the move as a “well-deserved recognition” of the teaching profession and a significant step toward inclusive homeownership.

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“As a member of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Housing, I commend H.E President @WilliamsRuto for his strategic move to allocate 20% of Affordable Housing units to teachers,” Passaris wrote on X. “This is a well-deserved recognition of their vital role in nation-building and a bold step toward inclusive homeownership.”

Her comments come hours after Saboti MP Caleb Amisi told teachers to stop raising grievances following a State House meeting where each teacher received a Ksh10,000 payout. Amisi argued that the gesture and other government interventions meant teachers should not complain about low pay, delayed capitation, or poor school infrastructure.

Teachers celebrate

The allocation to teachers was announced by President Ruto on September 13, 2025 during a meeting with over 10,000 educators at State House. Ruto said a memorandum of understanding would be signed to secure the teachers’ share of the Affordable Housing Programme.

The teachers’ pledge drew loud approval, with participants chanting “tutam” to celebrate the announcement. They join other groups, such as the disciplined forces and Harambee Stars players, who have previously benefited from the government’s housing initiatives.

The announcement follows a challenging period for teachers. Earlier this year, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) warned of a possible school shutdown over delays in capitation funds. The union highlighted that schools were struggling to manage operational costs and meet basic needs due to underfunding.

The National Treasury had also confirmed that the government had limited resources to fully fund free education. Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi told MPs that schools have not received the full allocation required per learner for several years, and that the funding gap has made running public schools difficult.