KUPPET Rejects New Teacher’s Salary, Issues New Demands
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has rejected the latest salary adjustments proposed by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), arguing that the increases do not address the wide pay gap between teachers and other public servants.
The KUPPET says teachers in comparable job groups earn up to 60 per cent less than their counterparts in the wider public service, despite working within the same government sector.
Speaking at KUPPET’s Nairobi headquarters, Secretary-General Akello Misori said teachers in senior job grades continue to receive significantly lower salaries than civil servants holding equivalent positions.
“In higher job groups alone, civil servants earn even double the pay offered by the Teachers Service Commission,” Misori said.
KUPPET also criticised the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) over what it described as limited career progression for teachers, citing a salary grade ceiling that is lower than that of the broader public service.
“This is in addition to the irregular cap of career progression within the TSC at salary grade D5, which is five grades below the seniormost public service grade of E4,” Misori added.
The union said teachers were dissatisfied with the salary review approved for the 2026/2027 financial year, arguing that it failed to meet the expectations set under Phase II of the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
According to KUPPET, the salary increments have been largely offset by statutory deductions and the rising cost of living, leaving many teachers with little real improvement in their take-home pay.
KUPPET National Chairperson Omboko Milemba called on the SRC to implement the President’s directive to review the teachers’ CBA and effect the salary adjustments in one or two phases.
“We come back to demand for harmonisation of salaries in this sector because this is the public sector. Quickly revise our salaries, and indeed the TSC must be put on notice, because the President ordered the commission to revise the teachers’ CBA and pay it in one or two phases,” Milemba said.
Beyond the salary dispute, the union expressed concern over delayed payments for teachers who supervised the 2025 national examinations, noting that examiners had already received their dues.
KUPPET urged the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) to expedite payments for centre managers, Teachers Training Colleges examiners and other personnel involved in administering the examinations.
The union also raised concerns about the implementation of the Social Health Authority (SHA), saying teachers continue to incur out-of-pocket medical expenses for services that should be covered under the scheme.
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