- Teachers will continue receiving existing allowances despite the implementation of Phase II of the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement.
- TSC says house, hardship, commuter, annual leave and disability guide allowances remain unchanged.
- The Commission has assured teachers that the revised salary review does not affect the current allowances framework.
Thousands of teachers will continue receiving their existing allowances despite the implementation of the second phase of the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced.
In a circular implementing Phase II of the CBA, the Commission confirmed that while teachers’ salaries have been revised upwards from July 1, 2026, the current allowance structure will remain in force.
The directive was addressed to all TSC Regional Directors, County Directors, Sub-county Directors, Principals of Diploma Teacher Training Colleges, Principals of Primary Teacher Training Colleges and the Director of the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE).
Unlike salary scales, which have been revised under the second phase of the CBA, TSC says teachers will continue receiving the existing allowances where applicable.
According to the circular: “All Allowances shall continue to be paid where applicable.”
The Commission has listed the allowances that remain payable under the revised CBA as:
- Baggage allowance
- House allowance
- Hardship allowance
- Commuter allowance
- Annual leave allowance
- Disability guide allowance
House allowance unchanged
Teachers will continue receiving house allowance based on their job grade and workstation classification.
The allowance remains categorised into three clusters comprising Nairobi City, major municipalities and all other areas.
Under the current structure, teachers in Grade B5 will continue earning Sh6,750 in Nairobi, Sh4,500 in major municipalities and Sh3,850 in all other areas.
Teachers in Grade D5 will continue receiving Sh50,000 in Nairobi, Sh35,000 in major municipalities and Sh25,000 in other stations.
Hardship and commuter allowances maintained
Teachers serving in designated hardship areas will also continue receiving hardship allowance according to their respective grades.
The Commission has similarly retained commuter allowance, annual leave allowance and disability guide allowance.
For example, teachers in Grade B5 will continue receiving Sh6,600 hardship allowance, Sh4,000 commuter allowance, Sh4,000 annual leave allowance and Sh20,000 disability guide allowance, where applicable.
Teachers in higher grades will continue receiving progressively higher hardship and commuter allowances, while the disability guide allowance remains Sh20,000 across all grades.
Although allowances remain unchanged, the Commission says the revised salary scales have already taken effect.
“The first phase of the reviewed CBA was implemented from 1st July 2025 while the second phase has been effected on 1st July 2026,” circular states.
“Annual salary increment for all teachers will continue to apply as provided for in the Code of Regulations for Teachers (2015).”
The Commission also assures teachers that: “Teachers converting into the new salary scales will retain their current incremental dates.”
Where the annual increment falls on July 1, 2026: “Teachers will be granted their annual increment on the existing salary scales then convert to the new salary points with effect from the same date.”
Background
The Teachers Service Commission signed the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement 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) on July 18, 2025, agreeing to implement the salary review in four phases beginning in July 2025.
The first phase was implemented in July 2025, while Phase II took effect on July 1, 2026.
Teacher allowances remain an important component of teachers’ remuneration, particularly for those serving in hardship areas and major urban centres where the cost of living is higher.
READ ALSO: How much every teacher will earn under TSC’s new Phase II salary structure
By retaining the existing allowances while increasing basic salaries, TSC aims to preserve teachers’ benefits as the phased implementation of the 2025–2029 CBA continues.
By Joseph Mambili
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