Bad News for TVET Trainers as CS Ogamba Rules Out Salary Increase.
Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Ogamba has ruled out an arbitrary salary increase for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) trainers, stating that remuneration adjustments for public servants are governed by established procedures under the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
Ogamba made the clarification on July 15, 2026, while appearing before the National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education (PIC-G&E) during the examination of Auditor-General reports covering government agencies for the 2018/19 to 2024/25 financial years.
The Cabinet Secretary explained that the Ministry of Education does not have the mandate to independently revise salaries for TVET trainers, noting that salary structures for public servants are determined through the frameworks established by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.
“Salaries are controlled through the SRC and are not increased because of levies on normal salaries. There is a process of increment of salaries that is stipulated in the letters of employment and that is what we follow,” Ogamba said.
TVET Trainers’ Salary Concerns
The remarks were made in response to questions on whether the Ministry of Education would consider increasing salaries for TVET trainers following concerns regarding reduced take-home pay arising from statutory deductions and other financial obligations.
Ogamba stated that salary adjustments cannot be implemented based on individual deductions or personal financial commitments, but must follow employment terms, government remuneration policies, and procedures established by relevant authorities.
The Cabinet Secretary noted that the requirement under the public service wage bill regulations, which provides that employees should receive at least one-third of their basic salary as take-home pay after deductions, does not provide a basis for increasing individual salaries outside the approved salary review process.
“The solution is not to arbitrarily increase that particular individual’s salary in order for them to meet the basic one-third requirement,” Ogamba said.
Salaries Governed by SRC Framework
The Cabinet Secretary reiterated that public sector salary reviews are conducted through formal mechanisms involving the Salaries and Remuneration Commission and other relevant stakeholders.
He stated that statutory deductions affecting employees’ net pay do not automatically trigger salary adjustments, adding that remuneration changes must be guided by employment contracts and approved salary review processes.
The explanation follows ongoing discussions regarding public sector earnings, deductions, and compliance with government wage policies.
Collective Bargaining Agreements for Higher Education Staff
Ogamba further addressed salary reviews affecting university lecturers and other educators in higher education institutions, stating that such adjustments are handled through Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
He revealed that the government inherited several unresolved Collective Bargaining Agreements dating back to 2013, which contained outstanding obligations, including salary-related commitments and arrears.
According to the Cabinet Secretary, efforts are underway to regularise the agreements and mobilise resources required for their implementation.
He stated that the government continues to address pending obligations arising from previous agreements while ensuring that future salary adjustments follow established institutional frameworks.
Officials Present Before Parliamentary Committee
The Education Cabinet Secretary appeared before the National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education alongside senior Ministry of Education officials, including:
- Beatrice Inyangala — Principal Secretary, State Department for Higher Education and Research.
- Esther Muoria — Principal Secretary, State Department for Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
The officials appeared before the committee as part of the review of Auditor-General reports for government entities covering the 2018/19 to 2024/25 financial periods.
Conclusion
The Ministry of Education has maintained that salary adjustments for TVET trainers and other public servants must be implemented through established remuneration structures overseen by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.
Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba stated that concerns relating to deductions and compliance with the one-third salary rule cannot be addressed through individual salary increases outside the approved public service salary review mechanisms.
Bad News for TVET Trainers as CS Ogamba Rules Out Salary Increase.
Follow Teachers Updates on Facebook, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), WhatsApp, Telegram, and Instagram. Get in touch with our editors at hello@teachersupdates.news.
