- The Kenya National Teachers’ Forum says the 2026 CBA salary increment is inadequate to meet teachers’ needs.
- The forum claims teachers were not sufficiently consulted before the agreement was signed.
- It is now calling for fresh negotiations involving teachers, unions and education stakeholders.
The Kenya National Teachers’ Forum (KNTF) has rejected the recently implemented 2026 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) salary increment, saying it falls short of teachers’ expectations and fails to address the economic challenges facing educators across the country.
In a press statement, the forum said it had received widespread feedback from teachers expressing disappointment with the salary review.
According to KNTF, many teachers believe the increment offers minimal financial relief despite the rising cost of living, inflation and increasing household expenses.
The forum argued that the pay rise is insufficient to improve teachers’ livelihoods or restore the dignity of the teaching profession.
It further claimed that teachers have described the salary increment as “a drop in the ocean” that cannot significantly improve their welfare.
Forum questions consultation process
KNTF also accused teachers’ unions of signing the agreement on July 18, 2026, without conducting adequate consultations with members across the country.
Among the concerns raised by teachers, according to the forum, are that the salary increment does not reflect the prevailing economic realities, the agreement was reached without wider participation by union members, and the CBA should be reviewed and renegotiated to secure better terms for teachers.
The forum said the dissatisfaction stems from what it termed a lack of meaningful engagement before the agreement was signed.
It maintained that future negotiations affecting teachers’ salaries and working conditions should involve broad consultations to ensure members’ views are adequately represented.
KNTF has called on the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), teachers’ unions and other relevant stakeholders to engage teachers in transparent and inclusive dialogue aimed at reviewing the agreement.
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The forum said such consultations are necessary to achieve a fair, sustainable and acceptable CBA that improves teachers’ welfare while recognising their contribution to Kenya’s education sector.
By Our Reporter
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