Sossion: State House budget covers Ruto’s meeting with teachers
By Faith Lagat, September 22, 2025Former Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General Wilson Sossion has defended the recent State House meeting between President William Ruto and a delegation of teachers, emphasising its legitimacy and importance.
Speaking on a local TV station on September 22, 2025, Sossion said, “The president has a right to meet delegations in State House and within the line budget meant for State House, the budget was neither that for universities nor any other ministry.” He noted that the meeting was conducted within the established budgetary framework of State House operations.
Teacher engagements
Sossion recalled previous engagements, highlighting a pattern of interaction with educators.
“I want to categorically talk on the president meeting the teachers. He did not begin last Saturday, June 23, 2022. Ruto assembled a huge gathering of teachers at Catholic University, and that is where he signed the charter with over a thousand teachers with reimbursement,” he said.
Sossion further underscored the significance of the forum, adding, “You must facilitate people to come to a meeting. The value of the meeting is essential where workers engage the government on issues affecting them.”
He framed these interactions within international labour and educational standards, referencing ILO and UNESCO recommendations that support teachers’ rights to engage their government on matters affecting education.
“Within the framework of ILO UNESCO recommendation the political and democratic right of teachers to engage their government on issues that affect them and education is codified and provided for.”
Sossion also stated that teachers supporting Ruto’s re-election were simply exercising their rights.
Follow-up actions by Ministry of Education
Following the meeting, the Ministry of Education moved to translate teacher feedback into actionable reforms. On September 18, 2025, Julius Bitok convened a consultative session with major teacher unions, including KNUT, KUPPET, KUSNET, KEPSHA, and KESSHA, alongside representatives from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
The meeting focused on unpacking the President’s directives and teachers’ proposals to establish a clear framework for implementing sector reforms. Bitok emphasised a teacher-centred approach, ensuring that policies reflect the realities faced by educators and students across the country.
State House and government officials have defended the initiative as part of broader efforts to engage ordinary Kenyans.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga lauded the administration for including grassroots voices, while Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura described the meetings as reflecting the will of ordinary citizens.
President Ruto reinforced this view during the launch of the SHA Sponsorship Program on September 19, 2025, stating, “I welcome you all. You have the right to come here since this is a residence for the people of the great republic of Kenya. I reserve the right to decide who earns the honour to come here.”