Justina Wamae questions how Ruto will honour teachers’ promises amid debt stress
By Faith Lagat, September 14, 2025Former Roots Party presidential running mate Justina Wamae has questioned the sustainability of funding promises made to teachers, urging a focus on wealth creation over political fanfare.
In a statement shared on X on September 14, 2025, Wamae highlighted Kenya’s strained fiscal space and rising debt repayment obligations as key concerns.
Fiscal concerns
“Beloved teachers, hii pesa mtolewe wapi? At a time when 48% of ordinary revenue goes to debt repayment. At a time when ordinary revenue has decreased from 18% in 2023 to 14% in 2024. Kenyans we are experiencing a shrinking fiscal space hence creating wealth for nation Kenya is the ONLY agenda bigger than wantam and tutam shenanigans,” Wamae posted.
During the meeting at State House, the Secretary General of KNUT, Collins Oyuu, endorsed Ruto’s re-election and expressed support for a broad-based government.
Her remarks came a day after President William Ruto announced a series of incentives to teachers during a State House meeting on September 13, 2025. Wamae’s concerns echo the wider debate on whether the government can sustain new financial commitments against the backdrop of tight revenue streams.
Ruto’s promises to teachers
During the State House address, Ruto pledged that 20 per cent of units under the Affordable Housing Programme would be reserved for teachers, formalised through a memorandum of understanding with teachers’ unions.
“Today we are going to sign an MoU so that teachers can get 20 per cent of all the housing we are constructing,” he said, prompting cheers and chants of “TUTAM.”
Teachers now join disciplined forces, already allocated 20 per cent of housing units, and Harambee Stars players, who are receiving subsidies covering half the Ksh2 million cost of units. The balance is payable over 20 years at Ksh 2,000–3,000 monthly.
Ruto also announced measures to improve teachers’ welfare, including a commitment to process retirement benefits within 10 days, with a plan for same-day payments. He doubled the promotion budget to Ksh2 billion, allowing 50,000 teachers to benefit annually, and pledged revisions to Career Progression Guidelines alongside solutions for medical insurance.
Reactions
Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris described the housing allocation as “a bold step toward inclusive homeownership.” However, Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba questioned the celebrations by teachers at State House.
“I saw teachers dancing with the president, very excited. Kwani, what did he give them? … Their pay slips are punched,” she wrote on X, referring to ongoing deductions such as the housing levy.
The debate highlights the tension between new government pledges and Kenya’s fiscal realities, with Wamae and Wamuchomba pointing to the need for sustainable solutions as 48 per cent of revenue continues to service debt.