Teachers have demanded fresh talks with their employer after rejecting the salary adjustments approved by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), arguing that the new pay structure has failed to address existing disparities and has left educators earning less compared to other public servants.
The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) wants the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) reviewed immediately to align their pay with that of other government workers.
KUPPET said the revised salary scales and allowances approved for national government civil servants have widened the gap between teachers and other public sector employees, especially those in senior grades.
The Union’s Secretary General, Akelo Misori, said KUPPET will push for the reopening of the CBA it signed with TSC last year, arguing that the current salary structure does not treat teachers fairly.
“Our CBA must be revised immediately, and we will not tire to enter into a new CBA with TSC once the SRC also sees sense that whatever they have given other public servants is not commensurate because the teachers are saying there is discrimination,” Misori said.
According to the Union, teachers are set to receive salary increases ranging between Sh900 and Sh2,000 under the current proposals, compared to other civil servants who they say, have received better adjustments and benefits.
“The salary harmonisation we fought for during the Grand Coalition Government has been reversed. The salary gap between teachers and comparable civil servants has now risen to more than 60 per cent,” Misori said.
“Teachers have been given a CBA increment of only between Sh900 and Sh2,000, while civil servants have received much better benefits.”
KUPPET argued that the new salary adjustments have reversed previous efforts aimed at ensuring teachers earn salaries similar to public officers with comparable qualifications and responsibilities.
The SRC’s revised salary structure places the highest-paid civil servants in Grade E4 on a basic monthly salary of between Sh312,000 and Sh576,000, while Grade E3 officers will earn up to Sh400,000, excluding house allowances.
In comparison, teachers reach the highest grade at D5, where the highest basic monthly salary stands at Sh133,354.
Although entry-level teachers earn slightly more than their counterparts in the civil service, Kuppet said salary progression favours other public servants as employees move to higher grades.
Kuppet National Chairperson Omboko Milemba said the salary gap had reached unacceptable levels, warning that teachers would not continue working while earning less than other public servants.
“A sweeper in public service is earning Sh25,000 while a trained teacher is earning Sh26,000 at the lowest level. We are not going to allow that,” he said.
Milemba accused TSC of failing to effectively negotiate better terms for teachers when engaging with SRC and other government agencies.
“If the TSC cannot offer good terms of service and negotiate for teachers when they go to meet the SRC and other government agencies, then we don’t need them. We would rather have teachers getting paid under the Public Service Commission,” he said.
Beyond salaries, KUPPET raised concerns over the implementation of healthcare services under the Social Health Authority (SHA), saying teachers continue to experience delays in accessing treatment despite deductions being made from their salaries.
Misori accused the government of failing to honour commitments made during discussions held in March and April on teachers’ medical cover.
“SHA has failed to honour the commitments we agreed on in March and April. Teachers are still facing delays in treatment, system failures and being forced to pay from their own pockets for services that should be covered,” he said.
The Union said some teachers seeking specialised treatment, including in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), have been forced to meet costs they expected would be covered under the medical scheme.
“It is unacceptable that teachers seeking IVF services are being asked to pay up to Sh250,000 for diagnostics,” Misori added.
KUPPET warned that teachers could take industrial action if the challenges affecting healthcare services and salary disparities are not addressed.
The Union also called on TSC to consider providing an alternative comprehensive medical cover if the challenges under SHA continue.
KUPPET said improving teachers’ welfare requires more than salary adjustments, calling for fair pay, reliable medical services and full implementation of negotiated collective bargaining agreements.
The Union urged the government, SRC and TSC to engage teachers in meaningful discussions to address salary differences and restore confidence in the salary review process.
“We are asking the government to treat teachers fairly because quality education depends on a motivated and well-supported teaching workforce,” Misori said.
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