Teachers clinch Sh33 billion deal after talks with TSC

By Newsflash Writer

Teachers in Kenya have secured a significant financial boost following the conclusion of protracted negotiations with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

In a major breakthrough reached yesterday, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) and the Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (Kusnet) signed a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that will inject Sh33 billion into teachers’ salaries over the next five years.

At the time of signing, officials from the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) were still in a closed-door session with the employer, indicating that talks were ongoing.

The deal, finalised after marathon sessions at the Kenya Institute of Special Education in Kasarani, Nairobi, introduced a tiered pay increment structure. Under the agreement, teachers in lower job groups will receive a 29.6 per cent pay rise, while those at the top scale will get a 5 per cent raise.

“We have managed to get an increment of 5 per cent to 29.6 per cent,” said Kuppet Secretary-General Akelo Misori after the signing ceremony.

He added, “Those in the higher job groups will receive 5 per cent, while the lowest-paid teachers will benefit from a 29.6 per cent rise. This award in basic pay has favoured, to a large extent, the ordinary teacher, the one who bears the brunt of the work in schools.”

According to Misori, the pay increase addresses a longstanding imbalance in past salary adjustments, where classroom teachers were sidelined in favour of school administrators and department heads, particularly under the 2016–2021 CBA. The current deal shifts focus to teachers at the grassroots level, with the lowest-paid staff—currently earning around Sh23,000—set to earn approximately Sh29,000 after the adjustment.

Increment to be rolled out in phases

The salary increase will be implemented gradually across five years, with an annual budget of Sh8.4 billion allocated for the adjustments. The entire salary increment package is projected to total Sh33 billion by the end of the agreement on June 30, 2029.

While most allowances remain unchanged for now, a major victory for the unions was the agreement to scrap the controversial Career Progression Guidelines (CPG). Introduced in 2018, the CPG had been widely criticised for being rigid, unclear, and unfair to many teachers.

“We have removed career progression, and it will cease to exist from 30 June 2026,” Misori announced. “It has been under review and caused unnecessary interdictions. Its removal is a major relief to many.”

Also read: KNUT gives TSC one-week ultimatum after salary talks stall

Although the 2025/26 national budget did not factor in increased allowances, Misori signalled that further discussions are anticipated in 2026. These would revisit stagnant commuter, housing, and hardship allowances, which teachers argue have failed to keep pace with inflation and regional cost disparities.

A new baggage allowance has also been introduced in the CBA. Teachers transferred by the TSC without having requested a move will now be entitled to Sh43 per kilometre for the distance between their former and new work stations. This is in addition to the existing disturbance allowance.

Implementation starts immediately

The newly-signed CBA officially covers the period from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2029, but implementation begins immediately, with teachers expected to receive their revised salaries by the end of July 2025.

The breakthrough came after tense negotiations. Kusnet began talks at 11 am and concluded by 1 pm, while Kuppet engaged with TSC until 8 pm. A sticking point during the talks was the TSC’s proposal to delay the salary increment to July 2026, a position Kuppet flatly rejected. The union successfully lobbied for immediate implementation, ensuring that teachers will begin enjoying their new pay this month.

Another notable win for the teaching fraternity is the agreement that teachers who are dismissed on disciplinary grounds will now still be eligible to receive their retirement benefits. This marks a policy shift from previous practice, where such teachers forfeited their retirement packages.

Mixed reactions from union leaders

Kusnet also signed the deal with the TSC, though its Secretary-General, James Torome, was tight-lipped about the contents of the agreement. He declined to address the media after the signing and offered a terse “nothing” when pressed for details, before walking away without further comment.

Initially, Kuppet had gone into the negotiations with demands for substantial salary improvements and a 20 per cent increase in housing allowance to help teachers cope with rising rent, especially in urban areas. Though this demand was not met in the new CBA, union leaders expressed optimism about revisiting the issue during future budget cycles.

Also read: Mitei named new TSC boss as Nancy Macharia steps out

The successful negotiation followed a crucial meeting held earlier in the week between the TSC and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), during which the employer crafted a counter-offer to the unions’ demands. Following that session, TSC invited union leaders to Friday’s negotiations, culminating in the final agreement.

The signing of the new CBA marks the end of months of tension between teachers and their employer and paves the way for renewed focus on the quality of education. With salary adjustments now secured, teachers are expected to return to classrooms more motivated—though the unions have made it clear that the fight for better terms is far from over.