KNUT Seeks 60% Pay Hike and Comprehensive Reforms in New CBA Proposal.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has submitted a comprehensive Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) proposal to the Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC), seeking a 60 percent increase in basic salaries along with enhanced allowances. This draft was the result of over a year of consultations, aimed at addressing what the union described as ineffective outcomes from previous CBAs.
KNUT Secretary-General Collins Oyuu disclosed that the union had formally presented the proposal, which includes both financial and non-monetary benefits. He emphasized that KNUT was engaging with TSC in accordance with Kenya’s labour laws. Oyuu stated that negotiations were in their final phase and the union hoped to sign the agreement by July 2025.
The current non-monetary CBA is set to expire on June 30, 2025, and discussions for the 2025–2029 period are already well advanced.
Past Challenges and Criticism
Both KNUT and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) came under fire for agreeing to the 2021–2025 CBA, which lacked monetary provisions. However, the unions defended their decision, arguing that rejecting the deal could have resulted in a legal crisis due to impending deadlines.
Although the ongoing CBA did not initially include salary increments, teachers eventually received a 10 percent raise in the 2024–2025 financial year following a directive from President William Ruto. Other benefits included the extension of maternity leave from 90 to 120 days and paternity leave from 14 to 21 days.
The most recent teachers’ strike took place in August 2024, focusing on delayed promotions, the slow implementation of the existing CBA, and the late disbursement of medical insurance funds.
KNUT’s first national vice chair, Malel Langat, remarked that the government was often quick to sign CBAs but reluctant to implement them. He expressed frustration that it had taken a strike notice for the TSC to implement a Presidential salary directive.
New Demands in the Proposed CBA
In its current proposal, KNUT is seeking additional reforms targeting teacher welfare and employment conditions. The union has proposed that disciplinary matters be concluded within one month, with appeal processes capped at three months to reduce delays.
KNUT is also pushing for the introduction of sabbatical leave for primary, secondary, and college teachers—currently excluded from such provisions. The union believes this would support academic advancement and research, particularly for teachers interested in writing professional literature.
To address working conditions, the union is calling for holiday compensation through either a fixed allowance or overtime payments for teachers on duty during public holidays.
Additionally, KNUT is advocating for three incremental credits for educators in arid, semi-arid, and other hard-to-staff regions. Teachers holding acting positions such as deputy principals, heads of departments, and deputy head teachers should also receive acting allowances if not formally confirmed.
Read Also: TSC Urges Teachers and Staff to File 2024 Income Tax Returns Before June Deadline
Risk Allowance and Political Rights
As part of its proposal, KNUT has included a call for risk allowances for all public school teachers, especially those stationed in high-risk or volatile areas. The union is also lobbying for teachers to be permitted to vie for elective positions during general or by-elections. It insists that unsuccessful candidates should be allowed to return to their jobs without facing penalties or discrimination.
According to KNUT, leave allowances should match one month’s basic salary to prevent burnout and enhance teacher productivity. The union further recommends an extraneous allowance, arguing that teachers often work beyond regular hours preparing lessons and marking assignments.
This upcoming CBA is anticipated to be signed around the same time TSC CEO Nancy Macharia’s decade-long tenure concludes in June 2025.
KUPPET’s Demands and Parallel Negotiations
In a related development, KUPPET is demanding an increase in basic salaries ranging from 50 to 100 percent, along with improved allowances. Acting Secretary-General Moses Nthurima explained that the 100 percent raise applies to the lowest-paid teachers, while the highest earners should receive at least a 50 percent increment. The goal, he said, was to reduce the income gap between classroom teachers and their supervisors.
Nthurima confirmed that TSC had invited KUPPET for a job evaluation exercise, a precursor to formal negotiations slated for May 2025. The union has already engaged with TSC, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, and the National Assembly’s Education Committee to shape the new CBA.
Read Also: KUPPET CBA Salary and Allowance Proposals (2025–2029)
In its submissions, KUPPET is also calling for harmonized house allowances for teachers nationwide, ensuring parity with those in Nairobi. The union has asked for the medical insurance capitation to be doubled so teachers can access high-quality healthcare. Additionally, risk allowances specifically for science teachers were proposed.
Nthurima emphasized the need to revise career progression guidelines to introduce two distinct pathways—one for administrators and another for classroom teachers who prefer to remain in teaching roles. He further pointed out disparities in remuneration within the TSC, where secretariat staff earn 50 to 60 percent more than classroom teachers, describing this as internal discrimination.
KNUT Seeks 60% Pay Hike and Comprehensive Reforms in New CBA Proposal.
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