Teachers’ unions have cautioned that learning in public schools may face disruptions due to a deadlock in negotiations over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), just three weeks before the current 2021-2025 CBA deal expires.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), and Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (Kusnet) have all pressed the TSC to commence talks urgently, warning of possible industrial action if no progress is made.
“We submitted our proposals months ago, but instead of engaging, the TSC continues to hide behind the ‘waiting for advice from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC)’ as an excuse,” said Knut Deputy Secretary Hezbon Otieno.
The situation is further complicated by the absence of any salary enhancements for teachers in the 2025–2026 national budget. Senior TSC officials, while appearing before the National Assembly’s Education Committee on 13 May, confirmed that the budget had no allocation for the upcoming CBA.
“Key areas that are not funded at all in the 2025–2026 budget for the TSC include the financial requirement for the CBA that is under negotiation,” stated Mr. Cheptumo Ayabei, TSC’s Director of Finance.
Knut is pushing for a 60 per cent increase in basic salaries over the next four years, indexed to inflation, as well as a 30 per cent rise in allowances. The union also seeks a revision of promotion criteria to be based on merit, experience, and qualifications, alongside a review of the Career Progression Guidelines (CPG) to establish Grade C1 as the entry level, instead of the current B5.
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The union is also calling for an overhaul of medical exit policies and sick leave provisions, proposing an improvement from the current three months full pay and three months half pay, to six months full pay and six months half pay.
Kusnet Secretary-General James Torome expressed frustration over the lack of communication from TSC since July 2024, when the commission acknowledged receiving their proposals.
“We are yet to commence negotiations on the 2025–2029 CBA with the TSC. The last letter only promised to revert in due time, so we are still waiting,” Mr. Torome said.
Kusnet is seeking differentiated pay increases—40 per cent for principals and school heads (grades D1–D5), and 50 per cent for junior staff (grades B5–C5). Additionally, they are calling for a monthly risk allowance of KSh15,000 and an annual uniform allowance of KSh15,000, citing the quasi-nursing nature of their duties.
The union also demands a 50 per cent increase across all other allowances and the expansion of hardship areas, noting that any alterations to hardship classifications must be court-sanctioned.
Meanwhile, Kuppet Secretary-General Akelo Misori criticised the lack of engagement by TSC despite there being no leadership vacuum.
“The commission is fully constituted and what we now need is for the acting CEO, Evaleen Jesang Mitei, to initiate talks and ensure the process is seamlessly followed,” Mr. Misori stated.
Kuppet’s demands include a review of job descriptions for classroom teachers to address disparities that arose in the previous CBA, which primarily benefited school administrators.
“During the previous review, the SRC held that only school administrators are leaders. This resulted in a positive salary review for administrators, which opened a gap between them and classroom teachers with similar qualifications and experience,” he explained.
The union is demanding salary increments of between 30 and 70 per cent, a 100 per cent rise in selected allowances, and a shorter CBA cycle of two years to allow for more frequent reviews.
Additional demands include automatic promotions up to deputy principal level, creation of separate promotion tracks for administrators and non-administrators from Grade D1, full compensation for acting positions, and eventual phasing out of such roles. They are also seeking harmonised house allowances with Cluster 1 regions like Nairobi, payment of per diems for out-of-station work, and the introduction of post-graduate and risk allowances.
The 2021–2025 CBA, signed during the Covid-19 pandemic, was largely non-monetary due to economic constraints. With current economic conditions having stabilised, union leaders argue there is no justification for further delay in negotiations.
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