“Supporting Women, Strengthening Education: KEWOTA at Six Leads the Charge for Empowered Teachers”

By John Kariuki 

Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Ms Mary Muthoni, has called on all employers to establish lactation rooms to support nursing mothers in the workplace. She reaffirmed the Ministry of Health’s commitment to promoting breastfeeding-friendly environments that provide safe, private spaces and flexible breaks for expressing milk.

Speaking during the 6th anniversary celebration of the Kenya Women Teachers Association (KEWOTA), Ms Muthoni urged teachers to prioritise their overall health and mental well-being, recognising the emotional challenges that come with their profession. She encouraged regular health screenings, emphasising that “healthy teachers mean healthy learners — and ultimately, a healthy nation.”

The PS further encouraged teachers to support one another and work closely with local administrators and child protection officers to combat gender-based violence in communities. She underscored the importance of fostering safe spaces where survivors are believed, protected, and empowered to rebuild their lives.

On her part the Chief Executive Officer of KEWOTA Benter Opande eloquently articulated the challenges facing teachers.

She noted that educators continue to grapple with numerous obstacles, including inadequate training for the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), limited infrastructure, mental health concerns, and persistent gender inequality in leadership within educational institutions. Despite women’s demonstrated competence, 

Ms. Opande said that they remain underrepresented in senior leadership roles—a disparity that, according to CEOs, can adversely affect productivity.

In response to these challenges, KEWOTA has remained steadfast over the past six years, implementing impactful initiatives to empower its members. These include:

The Water Tank Project, which allows members to acquire water tanks through an affordable deposit system.

The Laptop Project, undertaken in partnership with the Estonian Consulate, which provides teachers with access to digital books and enables them to teach in clean, modern environments—free from physical textbooks and chalk.

Table Banking and Scholarship Programs, aimed at promoting financial empowerment and educational advancement among members.

Ms. Opande further emphasized that the lack of adequate infrastructure—particularly digital tools such as laptops—continues to hinder the full realization of the CBC curriculum. Without these resources, teachers are unable to effectively utilize online materials and textbook links, leading to reduced student performance. The inability to demonstrate complex concepts, such as 3D shapes, due to the absence of digital aids, is compromising the quality of education in Kenya.