Here’s Why Teacher’s July Salary Will Delay And What They Need To Know

Thousands of teachers across the country will receive their July salaries on August 1, 2025, following an unusual delay of nearly a week. This comes as the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) works to finalise salary adjustments under the newly signed 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Traditionally, teachers are paid by the 26^th of every month, but this cycle has been extended to allow for the implementation of revised pay structures and allowances.

According to reliable sources within TSC, most teachers had anticipated receiving their salaries on Monday, July 28. However, the process has been held up due to the technical recalibration required to align payroll systems with the new salary structure. The adjustments are part of the first phase of the CBA, which officially came into effect on July 1, 2025.

The delay comes just days after the TSC and the three major teachers’ unions—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)—signed the much-anticipated four-year CBA on July 19, 2025.

The deal is estimated to cost the government approximately Ksh33.75 billion over the 2025–2029 period. In a statement issued after the signing of the agreement, TSC acknowledged the long and meticulous negotiation process and praised the unions for their commitment to securing better terms for teachers.

“After the long journey of detailed and thorough negotiations, we are delighted to inform our more than 400,000 teachers that we have a CBA deal for the period 2025-2029, which we have signed with the elected representatives of KNUT, KUSNET, and KUPPET today,” the statement read.

The CBA introduces salary increments across all job groups, with the lowest-paid teachers in Grade B5 seeing their monthly salary rise from approximately Ksh23,000 to Ksh29,000. On the other end of the scale, senior teachers in Grade D5 are set to earn up to Ksh167,415, reflecting a five per cent increase.

Overall, the revised salary structure provides an increment of up to 29.5 per cent, depending on the teacher’s job group, years of service, and other eligibility criteria. The Commission has reassured educators that the changes will be fully incorporated into the August payroll and that all backdated amounts from July 1 will be paid in full.

Meanwhile, the education sector is grappling with fresh concerns over the future of free primary and secondary education in Kenya. As schools prepare to close for the August holidays this week, the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) has issued a warning that parents may soon have to contribute up to Ksh7,800 annually for their children enrolled in public day schools.

The concern stems from persistent underfunding by the government. Although the national policy stipulates that each secondary school student should receive Ksh22,244 annually in capitation, some schools report having received as little as Ksh9,000 this year.

These revelations come amid reports from the National Treasury indicating that the government has been disbursing only Ksh16,900 per learner. This has led to fears of an imminent reduction in capitation funding, which could destabilise the free education programme that millions of learners rely on.

President William Ruto has strongly denied allegations of budget cuts to the education sector, insisting that his administration remains firmly committed to upholding free education. He reiterated that education is a central pillar of the Kenya Kwanza government’s social agenda and vowed to continue supporting learners from all backgrounds.

Despite the President’s assurances, anxiety remains high among parents, educators, and education stakeholders. Many are calling on the government to urgently address the shortfall and provide clear communication on its long-term plan for public education funding.

As the country moves into the second half of the school year, all eyes are on the government and the TSC to ensure smooth implementation of the new CBA and resolution of the funding crisis in schools.

Teachers are optimistic that the newly negotiated salaries will not only improve their livelihoods but also boost morale and learning outcomes across the education sector.

However, the government must now work to reassure stakeholders that its commitment to free education is not just a policy statement, but a fully funded and sustainable national priority.

The next few weeks will be pivotal in determining how the government manages both the financial implications of the new CBA and the growing concerns surrounding education funding.

Read Also: TSC Processes July Salaries For Teachers As First Phase of New CBA Takes Effect