The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has successfully concluded a landmark four-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the country’s major teachers' unions, a historic accord aimed at substantially improving the welfare and remuneration of over 400,000 educators across Kenya. The agreement, signed on Friday, July 18, brings together the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), and the Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET). This comprehensive deal, which will be implemented in phases between July 2025 and June 2029, is estimated to cost the taxpayer approximately KSh 33.7 billion, effectively averting widespread industrial action that had been threatened by teachers.

Unlike previous CBAs that focused more on non-monetary provisions, this new agreement places a strong emphasis on direct monetary benefits. Teachers across all job groups are set to receive significant salary increments ranging from 5% to 29.5%. The most substantial raises are earmarked for those in lower job groups, with some receiving a minimum raise of 29%, aiming to bridge the disparity in compensation across teaching cadres. The first phase of implementation, which primarily covers salary increments, is expected to cost KSh 2.4 billion and will be completed by July 2026. Furthermore, the TSC will remit over KSh 1 billion towards teachers' pension schemes and statutory contributions.

Detailed benefits for various job groups illustrate the impact of the new salary structure. The lowest-paid teachers under job group B5, the entry-level for primary school teachers, will see their basic salary increase from KSh 22,793 to KSh 28,620, a raise of KSh 5,827. The highest earners in this group will move from KSh 28,491 to KSh 37,100, an increase of KSh 8,609. For job group C1, the entry level for secondary school teachers, the lowest-earning teachers will now earn KSh 35,336, up from KSh 28,491, reflecting a KSh 6,845 increase. The highest earners in C1 will receive KSh 47,261, a jump of KSh 11,647 from KSh 35,614.

Teachers in job group C2, encompassing Senior Teacher II and Secondary Teacher II, will experience pay increments of between KSh 4,799 and KSh 10,454, with salaries ranging from KSh 41,420 to KSh 57,230. Job group C3, including Senior teachers in Special Needs Education, will now earn between KSh 49,781 and KSh 66,233, up from their previous range of KSh 44,412 to KSh 56,514. Senior masters and lecturers in teacher colleges (Job Group C4) will see their pay rise from a range of KSh 52,308-KSh 67,220 to KSh 58,585-KSh 77,120, reflecting a 12% to 14.7% growth. Deputy Principals and Senior Masters in job group C5 will now take home between KSh 69,745 and KSh 96,130, an increase of KSh 4,975 to KSh 17,463 from their current KSh 64,770-KSh 78,667.

For higher job groups, D1 (Senior Master II and Principals III) will see increments of KSh 2,359 to KSh 4,171, with salaries rising to KSh 80,984-KSh 99,272. Deputy Principals II and Senior Masters I (Job Group D2) will receive an increase of KSh 3,152 to KSh 5,461, making their new pay range KSh 95,271-KSh 116,012. Principals and Deputy Principals I (Job Group D3) will now earn between KSh 109,224 and KSh 133,347, a raise of KSh 4,042 to KSh 6,278. Senior Principals in job group D4 will see their salaries grow by KSh 3,547 to KSh 7,094, with the range becoming KSh 121,789 to KSh 150,675. At the pinnacle, Chief Principals (Job Group D5), the highest-paid in the profession, will experience an increase of KSh 3,941 to KSh 7,880, with their salaries reaching KSh 135,321 to KSh 167,415.

Beyond the direct financial gains, the CBA also addresses crucial welfare aspects for teachers. Notably, teachers leaving the service by way of dismissal will now be entitled to their pensions, a significant win for their long-term financial security. Additionally, female teachers who are lactating will be accorded dedicated breaks while in school to attend to their infants, promoting better work-life balance and support for new mothers.

Union leaders have expressed widespread satisfaction with the outcome of the negotiations. KNUT Secretary-General Collins Oyuu hailed the agreement as a major victory, particularly emphasizing the substantial increments for teachers in the lower cadres, who he noted have historically faced the brunt of low pay. KUPPET Secretary General Akello Misori confirmed that the new pay deal would be factored into July salaries, stating, “We agreed that we will get Sh8.4 billion each financial year for the pay rise, and by the end of this month, we expect the first date of implementation.”

This development aligns with President William Ruto’s commitment to strengthening the basic education sector. The government intends to allocate more resources to address pressing challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of learning materials, and understaffed schools. A key part of the president's agenda is the ambitious plan to recruit approximately 24,000 additional teachers by the end of January 2026, supplementing the 76,000 educators already hired during his term. By 2026, the total number of teachers employed under his administration is expected to reach at least 100,000. With the CBA now signed, attention turns to the government’s part in fulfilling the commitments and ensuring the long-term well-being and improved motivation of Kenya's teaching workforce.