Teachers from across the country made long trips to Nairobi hoping that their gathering with President William Ruto would mark a turning point for them.
They arrived on Friday night, September 12, tired but full of expectation, believing that the event would give them not only recognition but also a chance to hear promises that could ease the struggles they face daily.
By Saturday morning, more than 10,000 of them filled the grounds near State House, chanting in unity and showing their support for the president.
The mood was lively at first, but what followed tested the patience of many who had already sacrificed time, energy, and money to attend.
The teachers had been promised a facilitation allowance of 10,000 shillings each to cover their travel and expenses. What should have been a smooth process stretched into the night.
Long queues formed, and the slow disbursement by alphabetical order meant that some waited until dawn on Sunday to receive their payments.
Posts on social media painted a vivid picture of the hardship. Some teachers sat on the ground shivering from the cold, others leaned on each other for support, and many wondered why such an important event was handled so poorly.
Photos shared online showed weary faces under tents with scattered green balloons and flags, remnants of the earlier excitement that had quickly faded.
Humor also found its way into the frustration. A Facebook post by Cleo Malalah noted that the teachers had only been served tea at six in the morning and joked that by the time the names starting with W or Z were called, the sun would already be high in the sky.
During the meeting, President Ruto announced plans to hire more teachers, with targets of 76,000 in the short term and 100,000 by January, a move aimed at easing overcrowded classrooms.
He also promised faster pension processing for retirees and a share of affordable housing units reserved for teachers. Union leaders used the chance to push for implementation of collective bargaining agreements and better terms of service. Yet, for many of those in attendance, the promises sounded familiar, and the 10,000-shilling allowance, though welcomed, felt like a small distraction compared to the larger issues they face such as delayed school funding, inadequate teaching resources, and the constant strain of loan deductions.
Online reactions reflected a mix of sympathy and sharp criticism. Some people argued that the allowance was little more than a tool to buy loyalty, comparing it to candy given after a day of cheering. Teachers themselves voiced frustrations, pointing out that their payslips are often swallowed by deductions, leaving them with little to take home even before school fees or other family expenses.
Others questioned why the government was spending over 100 million shillings on such events while schools struggle to pay suppliers and meet basic needs.
Still, the story of this gathering is not only one of frustration but also of resilience. Teachers traveled long distances, endured sleepless nights, and braved discomfort because they wanted their voices heard.
While many walked away disappointed, the event highlighted the ongoing tension between promises from leaders and the reality faced by educators.
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