Teachers' pay deal talks stall as unions push for higher salaries and allowances

KUPPET national chairman Omboko Milemba flanked by officials address the press in Naivasha on 14/3/25 on teachers medical scheme. The union has issued a seven day notice to the government to release Sh11B for the teachers medical scheme failure to which they will call for industrial action. [Antony Gitonga/Standard]

Teachers will have to wait longer before learning about a new pay deal, as talks to negotiate the deal were stalled on Thursday.

Instead, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has set July 20 as the new date for negotiations on the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

The CBA will cover a five-year period, from 2025 to 2029.

A proposal from the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) calls for a 50 to 100 percent salary increase and new allowances.

This means that, if the CBA is approved, some teachers could see their pay double.

"As a critical pillar of national development, teachers deserve fair compensation and safe, dignified working conditions," KUPPET said in a statement.

The stalled talks come amid rising frustration among teachers, with some union branches threatening industrial action if discussions drag on further.

“The Commission acknowledged that teachers are demotivated and recognized the many grievances about poor pay and working conditions,” KUPPET National Chairman Omboko Milemba said on Wednesday.

Uncertainty surrounding the talks comes just a day after the sister union, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), announced a seven-day ultimatum if the government fails to negotiate a new pay deal.

The draft proposal calls for a 60 percent increase in basic salaries for all teachers.

KNUT Secretary-General Collins Oyuu condemned TSC for failing to present a counteroffer following their discussions on the Competency-Based Assessment (CBA).

On Wednesday, KUPPET Secretary-General Akello Misori expressed confidence that a deal would be reached soon. However, he emphasized that the union would not accept a deal with no financial benefit.

“We reminded the Commission that teachers have been operating in a vacuum since the 2021-2025 CBA expired on June 30. This uncertainty is affecting morale in schools,” Milemba added.

The union has urged its members to remain calm as talks progress.

“We appeal to all members across the country to exercise patience as we await the TSC’s counteroffer. But let it be known that teachers are closely monitoring this process,” Milemba said.

KUPPET’s proposal, seen by The Standard, suggests that the lowest-earning teachers, currently in Grade B5, receive a 100 percent salary increase.

This means the lowest-paid teacher, currently earning Sh29,787, would now earn Sh59,574 monthly.

On the other hand, the highest-paid teachers (Grade D5) would also see a 100 percent salary increase, raising their current pay from Sh162,539 to Sh325,078.

The union is also calling for a 20 percent increase in house allowances across all job clusters. Under the proposal, the house allowance for the lowest-paid teachers would rise from Sh3,850 to Sh4,620, while the highest-paid teachers would receive Sh8,100 for housing.

For commuter allowances, KUPPET is demanding an increase of between 200 and 250 percent across all job grades.

This would raise the lowest commuter allowance from Sh4,000 to Sh14,000, while the highest grade would see their commuter allowance rise from Sh16,000 to Sh48,000.

Additionally, KUPPET wants the current hardship allowances retained and expanded to cover more regions, as recommended by Parliament.