Lawmakers have raised concerns on how the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) manage hardship allowances for teachers, saying the agency has failed to fairly classify hardship areas, leaving thousands of teachers in limbo over their benefits.
In a session on Thursday, the legislators demanded an urgent review of the system, warning that the current arrangement undermines transparency and denies teachers their rightful compensation.
The allowance, created to compensate public servants posted to regions with insecurity, poor infrastructure and lack of basic amenities, is provided under Regulation 91 of the Code of Regulations for Teachers and the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
While TSC administers the funds, the State Department for Public Service and Human Capital Development determines which regions qualify as hardship areas, with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) advising on rates.
MPs said this fragmented arrangement has led to contradictions that continue to frustrate teachers.
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Isiolo Woman Representative Mumina Bonaya pressed the commission to explain why Isiolo Municipality had not been upgraded into Cluster 3 for house allowance despite “clear eligibility” of schools there.
Acting TSC CEO Evaleen Mitei, however, defended the agency, saying teachers in Isiolo already benefit from enhanced terms after it was upgraded from cluster 4to cluster 4 for house allowance effective July 2024.
“Teachers in Isiolo municipality are now earning an enhanced house allowance under Cluster 3,” she said, adding that the terms will be maintained in the new CBA.
Legislators insisted the allowances system remains unfair. Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba accused the government of excluding Parliament and unions from talks on reclassification.
She pointed to a 2019 report that proposed splitting hardship areas into “extreme” and “moderate” categories, a move projected to save the government Ksh6 billion.
By Juma Ndigo
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