NAIROBI, Kenya- Teachers across the country are set to receive enhanced salaries after the government allocated Sh8.4 billion to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to implement the second phase of the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
TSC Chairman Dr Jamleck Muturi said the revised salaries are expected to begin reflecting in teachers’ bank accounts from July 20, marking the next stage of the four-year pay agreement signed between the commission and teachers’ unions.
The CBA, signed in July 2025, covers members of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and the Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET).
New salary structure
Under the revised salary scales:
- Primary Teacher II (Grade B5), the lowest-paid cadre, will earn between Sh26,225 and Sh33,444 per month.
- Chief Principal (Grade D5), the highest-paid category, will receive between Sh133,351 and Sh164,977 per month.
Dr Muturi said the salary adjustments are intended to improve teachers’ welfare, boost morale and enhance the quality of education.
“When the teacher is paid well, they stay motivated to teach the learner well and ensure they excel,” he said.
More promotions planned
The TSC chairman also announced fresh promotion opportunities, revealing that over 270,000 teachers have been promoted during the last three years.
He said the commission will advertise more than 35,000 promotion vacancies in August after the government allocated Sh2 billion to support the exercise.
“The government has promoted 270,000 teachers in the last three years. We urge all eligible teachers to apply once the vacancies are advertised next month,” Dr Muturi said.
20,000 intern teachers to get permanent jobs
In another major announcement, Dr Muturi disclosed that TSC had received Sh4.8 billion to facilitate the conversion of 20,000 junior school intern teachers into permanent and pensionable (PnP) employment.
The move is expected to address concerns raised by junior secondary school teachers who have been serving under internship contracts since 2023.
Government defends education investment
Dr Muturi spoke during an education day at Mbiriri Comprehensive School in Kieni, Nyeri County, where Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba defended the government’s increased investment in the education sector.
Ogamba said education had received 30 per cent of the national budget for the 2026/2027 financial year, describing it as the largest allocation to the sector since independence.
He said the government had constructed more than 23,000 classrooms over the past three years to support the implementation of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum and reduce congestion in schools.
The Cabinet Secretary also announced plans to build 1,600 science laboratories in senior schools during the current financial year to strengthen the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) pathway.
“These investments will help accommodate a growing learner population, improve learner welfare and provide an even more conducive environment for teaching and learning,” Ogamba said.
Warning over illegal school levies
Ogamba warned school heads against imposing unauthorized fees on parents, saying only levies approved through the Ministry of Education’s procedures can be charged.
He cautioned that principals found violating the regulations would face disciplinary action.
TVET enrolment doubles
The Cabinet Secretary also dismissed claims of declining enrolment in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
He attributed the perception to the introduction of the modular training system, which allows students to complete shorter courses more quickly.
According to Ogamba, TVET enrolment has grown from 397,000 trainees before the 2023/2024 academic year to more than 850,000 by May 2026, with the government working alongside Parliament to streamline student funding and reduce financial barriers to training.