The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Secretary General Collins Oyuu has expressed disappointment over the new salaries as proposed by Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
While speaking during an interview in a local station Oyuu said the union was studying the reviewed package before deciding on the way forward.
He said they had expected that those in the lowest job grade B5 also referred to as P1 teachers, would get a higher pay raise compared to the highest grade, D5 (Chief Principal).
“Our stand still remains that the lowest paid should be the greatest beneficiaries,” Oyuu said.
According to the salary increment for teachers after Government’s proposal, the lowest paid teacher in B5 will see a rise from the current Ksh21, 756 to a minimum of Ksh23, 279 if 7 per cent is effected and from the current Ksh27, 195 to a maximum of Ksh29, 915 if 10 per cent is implemented.
On the other hand, the highest grade of D5 could earn at least Ksh173, 422.
In the D5 rank, the proposal shows that a 7 per cent increment will see teachers in this grade, who earn a basic salary of Ksh131, 380 rise to a minimum of Ksh140, 577.
In the event of 10 percent rise, a teacher whose current basic pay is Ksh157, 657 will get a maximum of Ksh173, 422.
For D4, on the current basic pay of Ksh118, 242 would rise to a minimum of Ksh126, 519 if 7 per cent is effected and a 10 per cent rise will see it rise from Ksh141, 891 and to a maximum Ksh156, 080.
Grade D3 would rise from a basic of Ksh104, 644 to a minimum of Ksh111, 969 and 10 per cent moves it from Ksh125, 573 to a maximum of Ksh138, 130.
Teachers on grade D2 currently earning Ksh91, 041 would earn a minimum of Ksh97, 414 while a 10 per cent will see them move from the current Ksh109, 249 to a maximum of Sh120, 174.
D1 were expected to rise from Ksh77, 840 to Ksh83, 289 for 7 per cent rise and from Ksh93, 408 to Ksh102, 749 for 10 per cent hike while C5 would move from Ksh62, 272 to a minimum of Ksh66, 631 and from current basic salary of Ksh77, 840 to a high of Ksh86, 625 in the event of 10 per cent increase.
Similarly, C4 teachers were expected to move from the current Ksh52, 308 to a maximum of Ksh55, 970 and from the current Ksh65, 385 to a maximum of Ksh71, 924 and C3 would rise from Ksh43, 154 to a minimum of Ksh46, 175 and a 10 per cent means they would move from Ksh53, 943 to Ksh59, 337.
On the other hand, a teacher at C2 who earns a basic salary of Ksh34, 955 would get a minimum of KSh37, 402 and from kSh43, 694 to a maximum of Ksh48, 064 while C1 were expected to rise from Ksh27, 195 to a minimum of Ksh29, 099 with 7 per cent and from a Ksh33, 994 to a maximum of Ksh37, 393 if 10 per cent is effected.
On Wednesday, SRC chairperson Lyn Mengich said the review is about harmonisation to achieve equity and fairness in remuneration and benefits in the public service within the principle of affordability and fiscal sustainability.
“Pursuant to the constitutional principle of affordability and fiscal sustainability, SRC engaged the National Treasury on funding. The National Treasury advised SRC to consider reviewing remuneration structure within a budget allocation of Sh27.7 billion for the year 2023/24,” she said.
Out of the Sh21.7 billion, the teaching service will receive 44.2 per cent or Sh9.5 billion under the new proposal.
By Vostine Ratemo
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