Teachers decry dismal pay hike despite Sh33bn CBA deal

By Newsflash Reporter

Thousands of teachers across Kenya have expressed disappointment over what they describe as a negligible pay increase under the Sh33.8 billion 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed between the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and teachers’ unions.

Although the total figure for the pay deal seems significant, many teachers say their July payslips have barely changed. Some have criticized the salary adjustments as being too small to have any meaningful impact, especially given the rising cost of living.

Others have questioned how fairly the CBA has been implemented, accusing union leaders of agreeing to terms that fall short of teacher expectations. Under the deal, top-tier teachers in Job Group D5 are to earn up to Sh167,415, reflecting a five per cent salary increase. Meanwhile, the lowest-paid teachers in Grade B5 are set to earn between Sh23,000 and Sh29,000. The new structure provides for four equal annual increments. For instance, a C1 teacher currently earning Sh28,491 will receive yearly raises of Sh1,711, reaching Sh35,336 by 2029.

Similarly, teachers in Job Group C5, whose monthly pay was Sh64,770, will earn Sh69,745 by the final year, getting an annual rise of Sh1,243. At the D1 level, pay will rise from Sh78,625 to Sh80,984, with an increase of Sh589 per year.

Unions under fire over ‘empty promises’

“We had proposed a 100 per cent raise for the lowest earners and 50 per cent for the highest to reduce the wage gap and improve morale,” said Moses Nthurima, Deputy Secretary-General of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet). However, teachers across the country say the increments promised in the CBA have not materialized in their payslips.

“It’s misleading to claim teachers received billions. My salary only went up by Sh1,000, and after deductions, I was left with just Sh600. That’s barely enough for anything in this economy. It’s hard to believe that Sh33 billion was allocated and yet we’re seeing such tiny increases. Something doesn’t add up,” said a teacher from Kakamega.

Frustration is growing among teachers who feel the CBA’s implementation has been uneven. Many allege that those in leadership positions saw better increments than regular classroom teachers.

“I’m in Job Group C3. My salary increased by Sh1,787, but with PAYE, NHIF, the housing levy, and pension deductions, it was reduced. What’s worse is that Kuppet made double deductions from my payslip—Sh1,063 and Sh456. I suspect the Sh456 was for CBA talks, but why are we paying again when we already contribute monthly? This feels like exploitation,” lamented another teacher.

‘Illegal deductions’ add to teachers’ anger

Online, teachers have begun sharing screenshots of their payslips to highlight just how minimal the raises are. Some senior educators reported getting as little as Sh360 extra.

“Where is this so-called pay rise? I got a Sh256 increment. Over four years, that’s barely Sh1,000. The unions are the only ones smiling to the bank,” said a Nairobi-based teacher.

Meanwhile, Kuppet’s Vihiga branch has issued a formal complaint over unexplained deductions on teachers’ July payslips. In a letter to Secretary-General Akelo Misori, the branch accused the union of imposing a mysterious fee without consent. Labeled as “Kuppet – Union SwaL,” the deduction has stirred outrage.

“After the widely celebrated 2025–2029 CBA, our members were shocked to see illegal deductions on their payslips. This so-called loan to the Kuppet national office, coded as ‘Union SwaL’, seems to be scheduled to run for six months. For many teachers, it cancelled out any salary increase they were supposed to receive in July,” said branch secretary Sabala Inyeni.

Teachers now say they feel let down by both the union and the employer, as they continue to struggle with high living costs while receiving what many consider token salary increases.