NAIROBI, Kenya – Public school teachers in Kenya have secured a major victory after the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) signed a Sh33.7 billion collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the three major teachers’ unions, promising improved salaries, enhanced benefits, and better working conditions over the next four years.
The agreement, signed on Friday, July 18 in Nairobi, follows more than a year of negotiations between the TSC and representatives from 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).
The deal is expected to benefit over 400,000 public school teachers and will be implemented in phases beginning July 1, 2025.
The first phase alone will cost Sh8.4 billion, which includes over Sh1.2 billion in statutory and pension contributions by the employer.
TSC Chairperson Jamleck Muturi, who presided over the signing, thanked President William Ruto for what he described as “overwhelming support” for the education sector.
“Our first commitment is to safeguard the welfare of our teachers, improve their terms and conditions of service, and ensure industrial peace in the public teaching service,” said Muturi.
He said the government had committed to investing heavily in teacher recruitment, promotion, and training in the 2025/26 financial year. Key allocations include:
- Sh2.4 billion for the recruitment of new teachers
- Sh1 billion for teacher promotions
- Sh950 million to retool senior school teachers
New CBA Terms and Benefits
Among the progressive provisions included in the agreement are:
- Pension Rights: Teachers dismissed from service will retain access to their pension benefits.
- Job Evaluation Exercise: A nationwide job evaluation will be undertaken in the next financial year to inform updates to the Career Progression Guidelines.
- Breastfeeding Allowance: Female teachers will be granted a two-hour daily breastfeeding allowance for two months.
Union leaders hailed the agreement as a result of genuine dialogue and a shared commitment to address long-standing issues in the education sector.
“This agreement represents a major step toward improving the morale of teachers and ensuring better outcomes for learners across the country,” said a joint statement from the unions.
The TSC assured teachers of its full commitment to implement the deal in its entirety, pledging to uphold the dignity and professionalism of the teaching workforce.
Muturi commended the unions, commissioners, and the wider teaching fraternity for their patience and collaboration throughout the negotiation process.
“Only through collective effort and mutual respect can we realize the constitutional promise of quality basic education for all Kenyan children,” he added.
