Teachers transferred by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) have been urged to apply for the baggage allowance promptly, as some risk losing the benefit because they are unaware of it or miss the application deadline.
The appeal comes from former Bomet KUPPET branch vice chairman Peter Kipkurui Bett, popularly known as Comrade Microphone. He said the allowance is provided for under Appendix A of Phase Two of the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which sets payments according to a teacher's job grade and the distance covered during relocation.
Bett clarified that the allowance applies only to transfers initiated by the Commission. Teachers who request transfers voluntarily do not qualify.
Payment rates
Under the structure, the allowance is paid per kilometre as follows:
- Job grades B5 and C1: Sh43
- Job grades C2 to C5: Sh55
- Job grades D1 to D4: Sh68
- Job grade D5: Sh80
How to apply
Bett advised eligible teachers to submit their claims within 30 days of travelling and reporting to their new stations, warning that late applications risk rejection by the Commission. He urged them to begin the process immediately after reporting.
Applications should be made through the respective County Directors to TSC headquarters and officially stamped before submission. Applicants must attach:
- A copy of the official transfer letter
- Casualty or reporting letters from the former and new stations
- A copy of the national identity card
- The latest payslip
Bett also appealed to the TSC to review the existing rates and raise the baggage allowance to an amount equivalent to two months' basic salary. He argued that the per-kilometre rates are inadequate to meet the rising cost of relocating families, transporting household goods and settling into new stations, particularly amid difficult economic conditions.
He said an increase would make the allowance more realistic and help affected teachers relocate with dignity while improving their motivation.
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