Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers in Vihiga County have a reason to smile after the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) in Kakamega delivered a landmark ruling today December 04, 2025 which will affect close to 1,000 teachers in the county.
In the judgment, the court has awarded the teachers arrears subject to salary underpayment, which has been backdated to be paid with effect from September 1, 2023 to date, and gratuity for the period served under fixed term contract of three years at a rate of 31% of the last salary immediately before conversation to permanent and pensionable terms.
The court has also ordered the county government to pay the ECDE teachers’ salaries as per the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) Circular dated August 10, 2023 going forward.
According to the Circular, ECDE teachers who are Certificate holders, and who are placed in Job Group G are supposed to get between Ksh.23,700 to Kshs.31,450, diploma holders who are placed in Job Group H are supposed to be on a salary scale of Kshs.26,900 –35,380, while degree holders who are in Job Group K need to earn a basic salary of between Kshs.39,700 – 52,960.
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Further, House allowance and commuter allowance for certificate (JG G) is Kshs.3,850 and 4000, for diploma (JG H) Kshs.5,000 and Kshs.4,000 and for degree (JG K) Kshs.8,133 and 5,000 respectively. Accordingly, the gross pay for certificate (JG G) is Kshs.34,450 – 42,200, diploma (JGH) Kshs.46700 – 56,690 and degree (JG K) Kshs.61,200 – 74,460.
At the same time, the Kenya Union of Pre-Primary Education Teachers (KUNOPPET), which filed the petition on behalf of Vihiga ECDE teachers, has been directed to compute and file gratuity amounts for its members within 30 days, with the matter being slated for mention on January 28, 2026 to confirm compliance.
The teachers were represented in court by KUNOPPET Secretary General Samuel Opiyo, who expressed satisfaction with the judgment stating that it will go a long way in helping thousands of ECDE teachers in the county who have worked under oppressive terms of service.
By Roy Hezron
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