Teachers in Hardship Zones Push for 40% Allowance Review, Call for CBA Inclusion

Teachers in Hardship Zones Push for 40% Allowance Review, Call for CBA Inclusion

Teachers serving in hardship and arid areas have called for an enhanced hardship allowance to be included in the upcoming collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) slated for signing before the current ones expire on June 30, 2025.

The Kenya Teachers in Hardship and Arid Areas Welfare Association (KETHAWA) insists that this allowance should be revised upwards and set at 40 per cent of their basic salary, arguing that it is the only benefit tailored to their unique conditions.

In a formal statement, KETHAWA voiced frustration over being persistently sidelined from key CBA negotiations impacting their welfare. They highlighted that while other allowances such as basic salary, house, commuter, and subsistence are being revised, there remains no mention of increasing hardship allowance.

The association believes that this ongoing exclusion amounts to discrimination and violates their members’ constitutional rights.

The association criticised the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) for failing to prioritise the interests of educators deployed in remote and challenging environments. Despite acknowledging the union’s legal authority to represent teachers, KETHAWA stressed that omitting hardship allowance from negotiations unfairly disregards the difficulties faced by their members.

Harsh Realities and Outdated Rates

According to KETHAWA, the current hardship allowance does not reflect the realities on the ground, where teachers grapple with insecurity, inadequate infrastructure, and poor access to basic services.

They argued that the continued application of outdated rates has led to a prolonged history of unfair treatment. KETHAWA warned that they would not remain passive if these injustices were not addressed.

Data shows that hardship allowances have historically been inconsistent. In 2019, the lowest-paid teachers received around Sh3,055 monthly, while those in higher grades earned up to Sh13,479.

These figures have since increased, with current rates ranging from Sh6,600 for Grade B5 teachers to Sh38,100 for those in Grade D5. However, KETHAWA maintains that the increments remain insufficient, considering the demanding conditions endured by teachers in these regions.

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The lobby noted that Kuppet’s 2025–2029 CBA proposals lack any suggestion for raising the hardship allowance. In a letter to Teachers Service Commission (TSC) CEO Nancy Macharia, KETHAWA reiterated their demand for the allowance to be pegged at 40 per cent of the basic salary, referencing a previous submission dated April 14, 2023. They stressed that any review of hardship areas must be done in consultation with their association to ensure fairness.

KETHAWA warned that if their input is not reflected in the upcoming CBA, they would initiate all lawful means to resist the continued marginalisation of teachers working in hardship zones. The association urged the TSC to act promptly and incorporate their proposals, asserting that prolonged discrimination dating back years must be addressed once and for all.

Teachers in Hardship Zones Push for 40% Allowance Review, Call for CBA Inclusion.

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