"This can't even buy cooking oil": Why teachers are angry with TSC's Sh36 salary increase

KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori during a press briefing on education budget cuts at KUPPET offices, Nairobi, on May 14, 2025. [David Gichuru, Standard] Teachers across the country have expressed outrage after their July payslips revealed meagre salary increments, despite the recent signing of the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which had promised better pay and improved working conditions. Educators are sharing payslips that show increases as low as Sh36 for some senior teachers, raising concerns about the sincerity of the teachers' unions and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). Samples shared with The Standard show that teachers in Job Group C1 received a net increment of Sh996, while those in C2 got Sh600. Increments further dwindled up the ranks: C3 received Sh289, C4 got Sh143 and C5 saw an increase of only Sh72. Teachers in D1 received the lowest, Sh36. One teacher in Job Group C1 who earned Sh37,234 in June now earns Sh38,900, a 4.47 percent increase. However, deductions also rose: pension rose from Sh2,792.55 to Sh2,917.50, union dues from Sh744 to Sh778, PAYE from Sh4,840.10 to Sh5,281, SHIF from Sh1,293.45 to Sh1,339.25 and Housing Levy from Sh705.80 to Sh730.50. "This is not just disappointing, it's humiliating. We were told this CBA would be transformative. Instead, we got a salary top-up that can't even cover a litre of cooking oil. This is not the respect we were promised," said James Otieno, a high school teacher in Kisumu. In a letter to Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Secretary General Akello Misori, Migori County Executive Secretary Orwa Jasolo criticised the union for lacking transparency regarding the CBA contents. "Our members are in disbelief. The July payslips reflect shockingly low increments, despite the signed CBA having promised meaningful change across job groups," Jasolo wrote. He also raised concern over a new, unexplained deduction labeled "SWAL:KUPPET-Union," which appeared on teachers' payslips without prior notice. "Teachers are now demanding a clear breakdown of the implementation matrix, an explanation for the new SWAL deduction and immediate clarification from the unions and TSC," Jasolo added. Many teachers feel betrayed and claim that neither the unions nor the TSC have offered any formal communication to clarify the implementation structure or the deductions. "The least they could have done is offer clarity. But silence is what we got. Truly, the teaching profession remains the heartbeat of the nation, underpaid, overworked, but still expected to perform miracles," said Muthoni, a teacher based in Nairobi The CBA, signed earlier this month, outlines a phased salary increment over four years, with Sh33.7 billion allocated for its implementation. Speaking in Kariobangi, President William Ruto praised the deal and promised salary increases of between six and 29 per cent to improve teachers' welfare. Union leaders also praised the agreement. Misori stated: "This CBA marks a shift towards fairness. In the last agreement, school heads benefited the most. This time, the ordinary teacher, the one carrying the daily burden, is at the center." He acknowledged the negotiation process was "intense and full of intricacies" and admitted the outcome fell short of expectations. Education expert Majani Baridi warned that if the concerns aren't addressed urgently, teachers morale may suffer.

"This can't even buy cooking oil": Why teachers are angry with TSC's Sh36 salary increase

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"This can't even buy cooking oil": Why teachers are angry with TSC's Sh36 salary increase

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