Teachers in Kenya will receive their July salaries by this weekend, TSC says. And this month’s pay comes with a bonus: the implementation of the first phase of the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) which brings salary increases and other changes.
The CBA was signed on July 18 with teacher unions KNUT, KUPPET and KUSNET and will cost the government Sh33.75 billion over four years. For this first phase starting July 1, 2025, TSC has allocated Sh8.4 billion for salaries and allowances. Another Sh1.2 billion goes towards pension contributions and statutory deductions.
Salary Changes and Timeline
TSC has closed the July payroll so the system changes are done. Teachers will start receiving their pay by Saturday, sources at the commission confirmed.
TSC Chairperson Jamleck Muturi said the signing of the new deal was after “detailed and thorough negotiations”. He praised the unions for working with the Commission to agree on an deal that benefits over 400,000 teachers.
What’s Changing in Your Payslip?
Some of the changes in the new CBA include:
- Salary increases across all job groups, with the lowest paid teacher in grade B5 now earning a basic salary of Sh28,620, up from Sh23,830. The full increment of Sh7,313 will be spread over the next four years.
- No changes to most existing allowances, although unions had pushed for an upward review to match inflation.
- Increase in Baggage Allowance, which helps teachers cover the cost of moving household items when transferred.
The Commission has however maintained rates for other allowances like house, hardship, commuter and leave allowances pending the review of the Career Progression Guidelines (CPG) planned for June 2026.
What About Deductions?
While salaries are going up, so are some deductions. These include:
- Union dues
- Pay As You Earn (PAYE)
- Housing Levy
More Than Just Pay Hikes
President William Ruto’s administration has also committed additional funding in the upcoming 2025/2026 Financial Year including:
- Sh2.4 billion for the recruitment of more teachers (so far 76,000 teachers have been hired under Kenya Kwanza).* Sh1 billion to promote teachers across different cadres.
- Sh950 million for training senior school teachers.
Summary of the New Salary Structure (Basic Pay Per Month)
| Grade | TSC Scale | Min Pay (Ksh) | Max Pay (Ksh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| B5 | 5 | 28,620 | 37,100 |
| C1 | 6 | 35,336 | 47,261 |
| C2 | 7 | 41,420 | 57,230 |
| C3 | 8 | 49,781 | 66,233 |
| C4 | 9 | 58,585 | 77,120 |
| C5 | 10 | 69,745 | 96,130 |
| D1 | 11 | 80,984 | 99,272 |
| D2 | 12 | 95,271 | 116,012 |
| D3 | 13 | 109,224 | 133,347 |
| D4 | 14 | 121,789 | 150,675 |
| D5 | 15 | 135,321 | 167,415 |
Key Allowances (Monthly)
- Commuter Allowance: Ranges from Sh4,000 (B5) to Sh16,000 (D5)
- Disability Guide Allowance: Sh20,000 across all grades
- Hardship Allowance: From Sh6,600 to Sh38,100, depending on grade
- Baggage Allowance: Paid per kilometer – between Sh43 and Sh80 based on job group
Leave and Housing Allowances
- Leave Allowance (paid annually in January): From Sh4,000 to Sh10,000
- Housing Allowance: Varies by job group and location – Nairobi teachers earn the most, followed by those in major towns like Mombasa, Kisumu and Nakuru.
For example:
- A grade D5 teacher in Nairobi earns Sh50,000 as a housing allowance.
- A B5 teacher in a rural area receives Sh3,200.
TSC’s implementation of the new CBA is a big step in improving teacher welfare but there is still more work to be done – especially on revising other allowances and responding to inflation. For now, teachers can look forward to bigger payslips this month.
