Across the country, a growing sense of frustration, anxiety, and uncertainty is taking hold in schools as thousands of newly recruited teachers and Junior Secondary School (JSS) intern teachers continue to endure months without pay.
What was initially viewed as a temporary administrative delay has now escalated into a full-blown crisis that threatens not only the livelihoods of educators but also the stability of learning in public schools.
For many affected teachers, the situation has become unbearable. Some have reportedly gone for four consecutive months without receiving a single salary payment, despite reporting to their workstations, attending classes daily, and fulfilling all professional responsibilities assigned to them.
The prolonged delay has left many struggling to pay rent, transport costs, school fees for their own children, and other basic household expenses.
The salary crisis has particularly affected a section of the 24,000 JSS intern teachers who were posted to schools in January 2026. Also caught in the financial turmoil are 9,159 replacement teachers recruited to fill vacancies created after thousands of teachers exited the service in 2025 through retirement, resignation, or natural attrition.
While a majority of the newly hired educators have reportedly received their salaries, some together with arrears, a significant number remain unpaid, deepening feelings of neglect and hopelessness among those still waiting.
In many regions, teachers have been forced to rely on loans from friends, family members, and local lending institutions just to survive. Others have reportedly been evicted from their homes or are facing mounting debts due to the prolonged delay in payments.
Several affected educators say the uncertainty has affected their morale and concentration, making it increasingly difficult to deliver quality education in classrooms already grappling with limited resources and overcrowding.
The crisis has once again placed the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) under intense public scrutiny, with growing concerns over the institution’s financial stability and ability to effectively manage its payroll obligations.
Although the Commission has repeatedly urged teachers to remain patient as payment processes continue, the delay in clearing salary arrears for many interns and replacement teachers has reignited widespread debate over the state of its finances.
Critics and education stakeholders have pointed to a recent report by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu, which painted a worrying picture of the Commission’s financial position. According to the audit findings, the TSC is grappling with an accumulated budget deficit amounting to Sh7.34 billion, alongside substantial negative working capital.
The report further highlighted concerns over pending bills and what was described as poor financial management practices, findings that fueled speculation that the Commission could be facing a serious financial crisis.
The revelations sparked public anxiety, with many Kenyans questioning whether the TSC had sufficient resources to sustain its expanding workforce, especially following the recruitment of thousands of teachers under the government’s education reforms.
Education unions, parents, and lawmakers have since demanded greater transparency regarding how funds allocated to the education sector are being utilized.
Commission has termed the claims “false,” “misleading,” and exaggerated, insisting that the salary delays are linked to administrative and budgetary transition challenges rather than insolvency. Officials maintain that measures are already underway to address the situation and ensure all affected teachers are eventually paid.
In an effort to ease the financial strain, the government recently approved an additional Sh24 billion through the supplementary budget.
The funds are expected to help cover salary shortfalls as well as facilitate the employer’s contributions toward the Social Health Authority (SHA) medical insurance scheme for teachers. Government officials expressed optimism that the supplementary allocation would stabilize operations within the education sector and prevent further disruption in schools.
Despite these assurances, many teachers say the continued silence surrounding the unpaid arrears has only deepened frustration on the ground. Some educators have warned that if immediate action is not taken, schools could soon face serious disruptions as affected teachers contemplate withdrawing their services.
Several teachers argue that they have continued working under extremely difficult conditions while receiving little communication regarding when their salaries will be processed. According to some of the affected educators, patience is rapidly running out.
“Teachers cannot continue working on empty stomachs while being told to remain patient,” said one frustrated teacher who requested anonymity. “We reported to our stations, we teach every day, and we have fulfilled our responsibilities. The employer must also fulfill theirs.”
Others fear that if the crisis drags on, it could negatively affect learning outcomes in public schools, particularly at the junior secondary level where the government is still implementing the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Education experts warn that demoralized teachers, financial stress, and possible industrial action could undermine progress already made in the transition to the new education system.
The passing of the May 16 payroll deadline has further intensified pressure on the Commission, with affected teachers now anxiously waiting to see whether the backlog of unpaid salaries and arrears will finally be cleared in the coming weeks.
The situation is being closely monitored by teachers’ unions and education stakeholders, many of whom have called on the government to urgently intervene before the crisis spirals further out of control.
As uncertainty continues to hang over thousands of educators, the coming days may prove decisive. If payments are not made soon, schools across the country could face widespread disruptions, staffing instability, and possible protests from teachers who say they can no longer continue working without pay.
For many affected educators, the issue is no longer just about delayed salaries—it is about dignity, survival, and the government’s commitment to supporting the very people entrusted with shaping the nation’s future.
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