TSC Secures New Salary Deal: Classroom Teachers to Receive Major Boost Under 2025–2029 CBA
TSC Secures New Salary Deal: Classroom Teachers to Receive Major Boost Under 2025–2029 CBA, The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has reached a salary agreement with the government under the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), offering significant pay rises, particularly for classroom teachers. The new deal is scheduled to be implemented starting with the July payroll.
The plan comes after recommendations from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), which had criticized the 2021–2025 CBA for heavily favoring administrators while sidelining classroom educators. Acting TSC CEO Eveleen Mitei is expected to lead a second round of talks with the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), and the Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET) to finalize the agreement.
Equity-Focused Salary Adjustments to Address Past Disparities
A new four-year salary structure will offer greater benefits to lower job groups, especially classroom teachers. The proposal is part of broader government efforts to improve teacher morale and strengthen ties with the education sector ahead of the 2027 elections.
Although the initial talks collapsed due to the absence of a government counteroffer, union officials have confirmed that negotiations are now on track and progressing constructively.
Breakdown of Key Proposals in the 2025–2029 CBA
🔹 KNUT’s Demands
- A 60% increase in basic salary across the board.
- A 30% rise in allowances, including hardship and risk allowances.
- A revised hardship classification policy, where TSC and KNUT jointly review and update designated areas after a three-month notice.
- A 10% monthly risk allowance for teachers instructing technical and science subjects.
- Thirty working days of annual leave after one year of service, with pro-rata entitlement for new recruits. Leave postponement is limited to two months unless approved by the employee.
- A one-year sick leave allowance: the first 180 days on full pay and the next 180 on half pay, subject to medical certification.
- Convalescent leave to be granted as per a licensed medical practitioner’s recommendation.
KNUT also proposes protection from job termination due to illness without the teacher’s consent.
🔹 KUPPET’s Proposal
- A 100% basic salary increase for teachers in job group B5. This would raise monthly pay from Ksh 23,830 to Ksh 47,660 over the contract’s four-year period.
KUPPET maintains that raising pay for the lowest-paid teachers is essential to improve retention and job satisfaction.
What to Expect in the Coming Weeks
The current CBA is set to expire on June 30, 2025. The new agreement is expected to be signed and reflected in the July payroll, with funding to be facilitated through a supplementary budget by the National Treasury.
Acting TSC CEO Eveleen Mitei, who assumed office after Nancy Macharia’s retirement, will present the government-backed proposal during the upcoming talks. This offer will lay the foundation for final negotiations and official signing of the CBA.
Hope for Teachers as TSC Targets Long-Standing Salary Inequities
The proposed CBA represents a significant shift in TSC’s approach to teacher compensation. Classroom teachers — often overlooked in past agreements — will now receive recognition for their essential role in education delivery.
Both KNUT and KUPPET are optimistic that the deal will enhance the welfare of teachers while strengthening the education system. The proposed reforms also underscore the government’s commitment to fair pay, inclusion, and improved working conditions.
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