Teachers across the country are expressing disappointment and anger after receiving what they term as “insignificant” salary increments in their July payslips, despite the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) implementing the new 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed with teachers’ unions.
By close of business yesterday, most banks and several SACCOs had credited teachers’ accounts with July salaries reflecting the reviewed pay. However, instead of relief, the increment has triggered frustration among educators, many of whom had anticipated a substantial boost in their earnings.
Minimal Net Gains
Analysis of payslips shows that the majority of teachers received net increments of less than KSh 1,000, with taxes further reducing the take-home pay.
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C1: KSh 996
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C2: KSh 600
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C3: KSh 289
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C4: KSh 143
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C5: KSh 72
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D1: KSh 36
“This is a mockery. After all the hype, my salary only increased by less than a thousand shillings. It’s demoralizing,” lamented a secondary school teacher in Bomet.
Union Leaders Under Fire
The discontent has quickly shifted toward teachers’ unions – KNUT, KUPPET, and KUSNET – which signed the deal with TSC on 18th July 2025. Teachers accuse the unions of striking a “raw deal” that benefits officials through deductions while leaving members with “peanuts.”
Teachers also criticized the unions for failing to negotiate improvements in allowances such as commuter and hardship, which have remained unchanged for years despite rising inflation. The only revised allowance is the Baggage Allowance, payable to teachers upon transfer to cover transportation of household goods.
TSC’s Position
The Commission, while acknowledging the concerns, maintains that the agreement is part of a phased implementation plan. TSC thanked President William Ruto for supporting the deal, outlining several measures in the 2025/26 Financial Year:
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Recruitment of additional teachers at a cost of KSh 2.4 billion, bringing total hires under the Kenya Kwanza administration to 76,000 within two and a half years.
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Promotions across cadres at a cost of KSh 1 billion.
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Re-tooling of Senior School teachers at a cost of KSh 950 million.
TSC added that the first phase of the CBA, effective 1st July 2025, will cost the exchequer KSh 8.4 billion, including KSh 1.2 billion in pension contributions and statutory deductions. The Commission insists the CBA provides salary increments of up to 29.5% across various job groups over the five-year period.
Breakdown of New Pay Structure
Under the new CBA, teachers’ basic salaries now range from KSh 28,620 for Grade B5 to KSh 167,415 for Grade D5. Allowances such as commuter, house, leave, hardship, and disability guide remain unchanged, except for baggage allowance which has been revised.
For instance, a teacher in Grade C1 will now earn between KSh 35,336 and KSh 47,261 in basic pay, plus KSh 10,000 house allowance (Nairobi rate) and KSh 4,000 commuter allowance.
Teachers’ Verdict
Despite TSC’s assurances, many teachers feel shortchanged. With the cost of living rising sharply, they argue the meagre increment does little to ease financial pressures.
“We expected a meaningful salary review that reflects our workload and the economy. Instead, we got crumbs,” said a primary school teacher in Kisumu.
As the reality of the CBA sinks in, pressure is mounting on union leaders to renegotiate allowances and restore confidence among their members, who increasingly feel abandoned.