New TSC boss under pressure as Knut demands 60 pc pay rise in 2025-2029 CBA talks

Less than a week into her tenure, newly appointed Teachers Service Commission (TSC) acting CEO Evaleen Mitei is already facing mounting pressure to expedite salary talks with teachers’ unions, as the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) pushes for the swift signing of the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) ahead of the current deal’s expiry in June 2025.

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) officials have demanded a 60 per cent salary raise, improved allowances and better medical cover to reflect the financial pressures facing teachers.

Speaking during the union’s Bureti Branch Annual General Meeting in Litein, Kericho County, Knut Deputy Secretary-General Hesbon Otieno urged Mitei to make the signing of the new CBA her top priority.

He noted that although negotiations began earlier this year under former CEO Nancy Macharia, who exited before their conclusion, only the formal signing remains pending.

“We are calling on Ms Mitei, who is a level-headed officer, as she settles into office, to fast-track the signing of the CBA for the teachers. Negotiations and signing of the document, as per the labour laws, is the most important issue that teachers are closely following,” Otieno said.

Proposals submitted to TSC

He confirmed that Knut had already submitted its proposals to TSC and that technical issues had been resolved.

In the proposed 2025–2029 CBA, Knut is pushing for a 60 per cent increase in teachers’ basic salaries, citing the rising cost of living that has placed immense financial strain on educators.

The union is also seeking a 30 per cent rise in all allowances paid by the TSC, as well as an enhanced medical cover for teachers.

“The most meaningful gesture the new TSC CEO can make is to ensure the prompt signing of a new CBA. We have conducted thorough research and considered projected economic conditions. These proposed increments are fair and essential for teachers to continue delivering quality education,” Otieno said.

Otieno also took a swipe at the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) for resisting the union’s demands, accusing it of overstepping its constitutional role.

“SRC must remain within its advisory role. It has no business interfering with the implementation of negotiated CBAs between employers and employees,” he said.

Allocates sufficient funds

He further urged the government to ensure the 2024/25 national budget allocates sufficient funds to accommodate the proposed salary adjustments and also called for the immediate release of the pending 30 per cent capitation funds to schools.

At the same event, Kericho Governor Erick Mutai, who chairs the Education Committee at the Council of Governors, called for more investment in junior secondary schools, particularly in providing laboratory equipment to support the competency-based curriculum.

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• Education
• TSC
• Teachers Service Commission
• KNUT
• Kenya National Union of Teachers
• Nancy Macharia
• Evaleen Mitei
• acting TSC CEO
• New TSC boss under pressure as Knut demands 60 pc pay rise in 2025-2029 CBA talks
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He announced that counties are currently recruiting more Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers to strengthen foundational learning in public schools.

Also speaking during the meeting, Law Society of Kenya member Bernard Ngetich called on the TSC to uphold fairness and transparency in teacher recruitment, urging the commission to eliminate favouritism and ensure all qualified educators are given equal employment opportunities.

The 2021–2025 CBA will expire on June 30, 2025.