Relief for Teachers: TSC Confirms June Payroll Will Clear All Pending Payments
Relief for Teachers: TSC Confirms June Payroll Will Clear All Pending Payments, In welcome news for educators across Kenya, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has confirmed that it will clear all pending teacher payments in the June 2025 payroll. This announcement comes shortly after Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi presented the national budget on June 12, setting the stage for early salary disbursement before the end of the current financial year on June 30, 2025.
Typically, June salaries are processed between the 18th and 22nd of the month. This year, the TSC plans not only to issue regular salaries but also to settle all arrears owed to teachers.
Teachers to Receive Various Pending Dues
According to sources, the commission will address several categories of unpaid claims, including:
- Deployment arrears for teachers moved to new job groups
- Hardship allowance arrears for those transferred to hardship-designated areas
- Pending payments for teachers in special schools
This move is part of a broader clean-up effort ahead of upcoming policy changes.
Hardship Allowance Controversy Looms
Despite the relief, some teachers may lose out as the TSC considers scrapping hardship allowances in specific regions based on recommendations from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
TSC officials are expected to meet the Public Petitions Committee in Parliament to explain the criteria used in hardship area classifications.
The decision follows a petition by KUPPET (Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers) in Machakos County. The petition, presented by MP Vincent Musyoka (Mwala Constituency) and supported by Committee Chair Hon. Edith Nyenze (Kitui West), highlights concerns over the exclusion of Mwala and Kalama Sub-counties from hardship status, despite facing similar conditions to neighboring areas.
Musyoka argued that Mwala is surrounded by hardship zones like Yatta, Kitui Rural, and Mbooni East, while Kalama has inconsistencies where 33 public secondary schools receive hardship allowance, but 9 are left out.
No Salary Increase in 2025–2026 Budget
While the June salary payment offers temporary relief, there is no allocation in the 2025–2026 national budget for a teacher salary increment. This has deepened frustrations among educators and their unions.
Negotiations on the proposed CBA 2025–2029 have stalled, and major teachers’ unions—including KNUT, KUPPET, and KUSNET—have warned of a nationwide strike if talks do not resume immediately.
TSC CEO Nancy Macharia Takes Terminal Leave
The stalled CBA talks have also sparked leadership changes. TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia has taken terminal leave ahead of her retirement on June 30, following ten years of service. The delay in CBA negotiations is believed to have influenced her early exit.
Union Leaders Demand Immediate Action
Union leaders are calling for the TSC to resume CBA discussions:
- KNUT deputy secretary Hesbon Otieno criticized TSC for stalling talks under the pretext of waiting for guidance from the SRC.
- KUPPET Secretary-General Akelo Misori emphasized the need for the new acting CEO, Evaleen Jesang Mitei, to step up and initiate dialogue.
- KUSNET Secretary-General James Torome revealed that the union hasn’t received a formal update from TSC since July 2024, despite submitting proposals.
TSC’s Director of Finance Cheptumo Ayabei confirmed to Parliament’s Education Committee that no funds were allocated for the new CBA in the next budget.
Unions Demand Substantial Pay Increases
- KNUT is demanding a 60% salary adjustment over four years, citing inflation.
- KUPPET is pushing for a 30% increase in allowances.
With the current 2021–2025 CBA set to expire on June 30, the pressure is mounting for immediate negotiations to secure better terms for teachers.
While the early June salary payment offers some relief, broader issues remain unresolved. Pending CBA negotiations, the removal of hardship allowances, and lack of funding in the new budget have left teachers uncertain about their future. Unless urgent action is taken by TSC and the government, a nationwide teachers’ strike could disrupt learning across Kenya’s public schools.
Stay updated with Opportunitieshub for the latest news on TSC salaries, promotions, and teacher welfare across Kenya.
