The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and three major teachers unions have signed a new pay agreement which will see teachers’ salary increased up to 9.5 per cent back dating to July 1, 2023.
This is revealed in the new agreement document signed today August 28, 2023 to amend the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) by Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET) with their employer TSC.
In an official statement by TSC read by the Commission Secretary and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Nancy Macharia teachers have secured an increase in basic salary of up to 9.5 per cent which will be payable in two financial years of 2023/2024 and 2024/2025.
This will see lower cadre teachers at Grade B5 TSC-Scale 5 basic salary increased on the minimum by Ksh.1, 037 from Ksh.21, 756 to Ksh.22, 793 and on the maximum by Ksh.1, 296 from Ksh.27, 195 to Ksh.28, 491 in this Financial Year.
The higher cadre teachers at Grade D5 TSC Scale 15 who are Chief Principals will not receive any salary increment on the minimum in the two financial years which will remain at Ksh.131, 380; while on the maximum will receive an increase of Ksh.1, 878 from the current Ksh.157, 656 to Ksh.159, 534.
The signed agreement will also see an increase in House allowance for teachers categorized under cluster 4 which shall also be payable in two financial years with effect from July 1, 2023.
According to TSC, the net effect of this is that the house allowance for cluster 3 and 4 has been harmonized, with the full harmonization being expected to be completed in the next Financial Year, July 2024.
“It is worth noting that 87 per cent of the public teaching services are earning House Allowance under Cluster 4 category.
These are teachers stationed mainly in rural areas,” said Dr. Macharia.
She added: “The new salary structure shall be implemented immediately in the August payroll and arrears backdated to July 1, 2023. We assure our teachers that they will get their pay by the end of the month.”
The initial talks between the unions and their employer at Kenya School of Government last Monday failed to reach a conclusion after it emerged that TSC tabled a salary increase of between 2.4 per cent on the minimum for teachers currently earning higher basic salary and 9.5 per cent on the maximum for teachers currently earning the lower basic salary.
“During the first meeting of August 22, 2023 the TSC tabled its offer for consideration by the unions.
To this end, the unions sought more time to interrogate the offer and consult with their members and other internal organs of the unions to make an informed decision on the matter,” said Dr. Macharia.
She added: “Keen to ensure industrial harmony within the sector, the parties resumed the negotiations to finalize the process that was commenced many months ago. After candid and sincere deliberations, we are happy to announce to the union and our teachers that we have reached a deal.”
Dr. Macharia also added that the Commission has concluded the promotion of 14,738 teachers in August 2023 and has advertised additional 36,275 vacancies for promotions, with the objective of the promotions being to motivate teachers as they advance in their career to improve productivity and performance.
She also revealed that the Commission will re-look into the career progression guidelines (CPG) for Special Need Education teachers and their workload especially those who are stationed in Special Units with a view to ensuring that they are optimally utilized.
KUPPET Secretary General Akello Misori speaking during the event stated that teachers serving at Grade C2 which is the entry grade for graduate teachers will see their basic pay rise by up to Ksh.4,164; those at C3 will get Ksh.5,141 while the highest D5 will earn an increase of Ksh.4,883.
“During the talks, KUPPET strongly opposed a celling by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission for teachers on Grade C5. The two sides will revisit the matter administratively once all the data is shared,” said Misori.
“House allowances for teachers in the rural areas and emerging towns will rise by between ksh2, 100 per month for Grade C2 and Ksh.8, 700 per month for grade D4. This follows the merger of geographical Cluster 4 with Cluster 3 in the determination of house allowance,” he added.
His KNUT counterpart Collins Oyuu lauded TSC for the salary increments adding that as a Union they were pushing for a 60 per cent salary increase and they now have 10 per cent, they will continue pushing for the reaming 50 per cent.
Oyuu also urged the Commission to re-look into its disciplinary procedures adding that it is not right for the same people who heard and determine a teacher’s disciplinary case to hear and determine the appeal of the same.
Basic Salary Structure for Teachers in FY 2023/24 and 2024/2025
| Grade | TSC scale | FY2023/2024 | FY2024/2025 | ||
| Minimum (Ksh) | Maximum (Ksh) | Minimum (Ksh) | Maximum(Ksh) | ||
| B5 | 5 | 22, 793 | 28, 191 | 23, 830 | 29, 787 |
| C1 | 6 | 28, 491 | 35, 614 | 29, 787 | 37, 234 |
| C2 | 7 | 36, 621 | 45, 776 | 38, 286 | 47, 858 |
| C3 | 8 | 44, 412 | 56, 514 | 45, 671 | 59, 084 |
| C4 | 9 | 52, 308 | 67, 220 | 52, 308 | 68, 857 |
| C5 | 10 | 62, 272 | 78, 667 | 62, 272 | 79, 651 |
| D1 | 11 | 78, 625 | 95, 101 | 78, 625 | 96, 381 |
| D2 | 12 | 91, 601 | 110, 551 | 92, 496 | 112, 633 |
| D3 | 13 | 105, 182 | 127, 069 | 106, 043 | 129, 463 |
| D4 | 14 | 118, 242 | 143, 581 | 118, 242 | 146, 286 |
| D5 | 15 | 131, 380 | 159, 534 | 131, 380 | 162, 539 |
| Housing allowance for FY 2023/2024 | ||||||||||
| Grade | TSC Scale | Cluster 1 | Cluster 2 | Cluster 3 | Cluster 4 | |||||
| B5 | 5 | 6, 750 | 4, 500 | 3, 850 | 3, 850 | |||||
| C1 | 6 | 10, 000 | 7, 500 | 5, 800 | 5,000 | |||||
| C2 | 7 | 16, 500 | 12, 800 | 9, 600 | 5, 000 | |||||
| C3 | 8 | 28, 000 | 22, 000 | 16, 500 | 14, 055 | |||||
| C4 | 9 | 28, 000 | 22, 000 | 16, 500 | 14, 055 | |||||
| C5 | 10 | 35, 000 | 25, 500 | 18, 000 | 16, 184 | |||||
| D1 | 11 | 45, 000 | 28, 000 | 21, 000 | 18, 066 | |||||
| D2 | 12 | 45, 000 | 28, 000 | 21, 000 | 18, 066 | |||||
| D3 | 13 | 45, 000 | 28, 000 | 21, 000 | 18, 066 | |||||
| D4 | 14 | 50, 000 | 35, 000 | 25, 000 | 21, 508 | |||||
| D5 | 15 | 50, 000 | 35, 000 | 25, 000 | 21, 508 | |||||
| Housing allowance for FY 2024/2025 | |||||||
| Grade | TSC Scale | Cluster 1 | Cluster 2 | Cluster 3 | Cluster 4 | ||
| B5 | 5 | 6, 750 | 4, 500 | 3, 850 | 3, 850 | ||
| C1 | 6 | 10, 000 | 7, 500 | 5, 800 | 5, 800 | ||
| C2 | 7 | 16, 500 | 12, 800 | 9, 600 | 9, 600 | ||
| C3 | 8 | 28, 000 | 22, 000 | 16, 500 | 16, 500 | ||
| C4 | 9 | 28, 000 | 22, 000 | 16, 500 | 16, 500 | ||
| C5 | 10 | 35, 000 | 25, 500 | 18, 000 | 18, 000 | ||
| D1 | 11 | 45, 000 | 28, 000 | 21, 000 | 21, 000 | ||
| D2 | 12 | 45, 000 | 28, 000 | 21, 000 | 21, 000 | ||
| D3 | 13 | 45, 000 | 28, 000 | 21, 000 | 21, 000 | ||
| D4 | 14 | 50, 000 | 35, 000 | 25, 000 | 25, 000 | ||
| D5 | 15 | 50, 000 | 35, 000 | 25, 000 | 25, 000 | ||
Note:
Cluster 1 – Nairobi City
Cluster 2- Mombasa, Kisumu and Nakuru cities, Nyeri, Eldoret, Thika, Kisii, Malindi and Kitale Municipalities
Cluster 3- Other Former Municipalities
Cluster 4 – All other areas.
By Roy Hezron
