The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has signed a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), bringing to an end intense negotiations that have centred around salary disparities and long-standing grievances by teachers in lower job groups.
Negotiations between TSC and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) are still ongoing, with expectations that a final deal may soon be reached. The signing ceremony took place Thursday night at the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) and was witnessed by TSC Acting CEO Evaleen Mitei.
Speaking after signing the agreement, KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori described the just-concluded process as “intense” and full of complexities.
“This process, which has just been completed, was so intense, with many intricacies involving engagement and compromise,” said Misori. “The offer from TSC did not go exactly as we expected.”
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According to the new CBA, teachers will get a basic salary rise ranging from 5 percent to 29.6 percent, with the highest gains going to the lowest-paid educators.
Those earning around KSh 23,000 will see their pay rise to KSh 29,000 over the CBA period, which runs from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2029.
“This award has favoured, to a large extent, the ordinary teacher—the ones who carry the burden of daily work in schools. In the 2016–2021 CBA, school heads benefited most. This time, it’s about fairness,” Misori added.
While allowances remain unchanged for now, Misori confirmed that KUPPET intends to push for their review in the next financial year. He also emphasised the union’s commitment to securing better welfare, particularly through improvements in group life insurance.
“We know the current budget didn’t include new perks by design. But next year, we’ll be back at the table pushing for allowance reviews and improved benefits,” he said.
KUPPET National Chairman Omboko Milemba noted that the total cost of implementing the CBA will amount to KSh 33.8 billion, to be spread across four years.
“It will take KSh 33.8 billion. The first phase is KSh 8.4 billion. We have proposed the second phase be boosted to KSh 15 billion to fast-track the implementation,” Milemba stated.
By Joseph Mambili
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