Teachers CBA: KNUT Demands 60% Salary Boost, 30% Allowance Increase.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has put forward a strong proposal seeking a 60 per cent increase in teachers’ salaries and a 30 per cent rise in all allowances under the upcoming Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), effective July this year.
The union, which primarily represents primary school teachers, has been at the forefront of championing educators’ rights and shaping education policy in the country.
According to KNUT Deputy Secretary General Hesbon Otieno, the current CBA is set to expire on June 30, and teachers are ready to negotiate for better terms of service in the new agreement. The proposal has been submitted to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), which is currently reviewing it for advisory before the start of the 2025/2026 financial year.
While addressing mourners at the funeral of the former KNUT Kirinyaga Chapter Chairperson at Kiandangae ACK Church in Ndia constituency, Kirinyaga County, Otieno warned that the union would not accept anything less than their proposed figures.
He stated that if the TSC fails to meet their expectations, teachers are prepared to resort to industrial action. He firmly emphasized that the commission must treat the union’s demands with the seriousness they deserve.
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In his exact words, Otieno declared, “Teachers will not accept anything less than 60 per cent on the salaries and also 30 per cent on allowances. Failure to do that, we will take industrial action. The Teachers Service Commission should take us seriously.”
The union has also criticized the government’s decision to withdraw hardship allowances from certain regions, pointing out that the move has negatively impacted a significant number of teachers. KNUT has urged the TSC to pay greater attention to the overall welfare of teachers, particularly those working in challenging environments.
Additionally, KNUT has called on the government to ensure proper and timely disbursement of funds under the free primary education programme. The union insists that the capitation policy, which stipulates the release of 50 per cent in the first term, 30 per cent in the second, and 20 per cent in the third, should be adhered to for schools to operate smoothly throughout the academic year.
First Vice Chairman Joseph Langat voiced alarm over the increasing insecurity in several regions, particularly the Kerio Valley area in Elgeyo-Marakwet County. He noted that such instability is severely affecting education and other sectors. Langat urged Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to step up security efforts to ensure the safety of both teachers and learners.
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He stated, “We have insecurity, especially in Rift Valley, affecting learning in several schools. The government should look into it and that is, as teachers, we fought for a hardship allowance.”
As the expiry of the current CBA draws closer, the union remains optimistic that their calls for fair remuneration and improved working conditions will be addressed. The proposed salary and allowance increments, if approved, would mark a significant boost for thousands of teachers across the country, ensuring better motivation and improved service delivery in schools.
Teachers CBA: KNUT Demands 60% Salary Boost, 30% Allowance Increase.