Kuppet warns TSC against non-monetary CBA deal, demands up to 70 per cent pay rise

The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) has cautioned the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) against submitting a counter-offer for the 2025–2029 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that lacks monetary benefits, firmly stating that teachers will not accept another non-financial deal.

Kuppet is demanding salary increases of up to 70 per cent, enhanced allowances, and the elimination of unpaid acting roles.

Speaking at the union’s national governing council meeting in Nairobi, Kuppet Secretary-General Akelo Misori noted growing anxiety among members due to the TSC’s delay in responding to their proposals.

He emphasised that only a counter-offer with tangible financial gains would be considered acceptable.

“The TSC should unveil the counter-offer, as this delay is causing anxiety. The economy has improved and inflation has eased, and now teachers want money,” Misori said.

Expired CBA

The current CBA, which had been in effect since 2021, expired on June 30, but TSC has asked for more time to consult other State agencies before responding to Kuppet’s proposals.

Kuppet National Chairman Omboko Milemba recalled the uproar that followed the last agreement signed during the Covid-19 pandemic, which lacked salary increases.

“Our members have warned us not to accept another similar deal, so this time, we are pushing for meaningful financial commitments,” Milemba said.

Kuppet is proposing a salary increase of between 30 and 70 per cent, a 100 per cent rise in select allowances, and a shorter CBA cycle—reducing the current four-year period to two years—to allow for more responsive salary adjustments.

The union is also advocating for a review of classroom teachers’ job descriptions, arguing that the current structure unfairly favours school administrators.

Kuppet noted that during the last review, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) recognised only administrators as leaders, leading to significant pay disparities despite similar academic qualifications and professional experience.

Scrap career progression guidelines

The union is calling for the scrapping of the career progression guidelines (CPG) to allow for automatic promotions up to the level of deputy principal. It proposes that from Grade D1, the TSC should create two distinct promotion tracks—one for administrators and another for non-administrators.

Kuppet also raised concerns about more than 99,000 teachers currently serving in acting positions without corresponding allowances.

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• Headlines
• Education
• Kuppet
• TSC
• Teachers Service Commission
• JSS
• KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori
• Collective Bargaining Agreement (
• Teachers CBA
• hardship allowances
• Junior Secondary Schools
• career progression guidelines
• Kuppet warns TSC against non-monetary CBA deal
• demands up to 70 per cent pay rise

“We want an end to unpaid acting roles. Teachers must be paid for the roles they perform,” the union said.

On hardship allowances, the union rejected government plans to reduce designated hardship zones under the TSC, terming the move ill-informed.

Instead, it has called for the expansion of the current 44 hardship areas, citing deteriorating living conditions brought on by rising insecurity, human-wildlife conflict, and historical marginalisation in regions yet to be officially recognised.

Regarding junior secondary schools (JSS), Kuppet insisted that the government must establish JSS as a fully autonomous level to streamline its operations and staffing.

The union also issued a stern warning to the government over delays in releasing capitation funds to schools.

“If capitation is not released within seven days, we will instruct heads of institutions to send learners home,” the union said.