The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has officially demanded a 60% salary increment for teachers as the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Ministry of Education approaches its expiry in June 2025.
Speaking during a burial ceremony for former Kirinyaga KNUT Executive Secretary Harrison Mureithi at Kiandangae ACK Church in Ndia Constituency, KNUT Deputy Secretary-General Hesbon Otieno emphasized that the union has already submitted its proposal to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). Otieno argued that the rising cost of living and the growing responsibilities placed on teachers, especially with the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) learners set to transition to Grade 8 by 2026, justify the significant pay increase.
“According to the Kenyan economy now, it is appropriate that teachers get a salary increment of 60%,” Otieno stated. He also called on the government to restore hardship allowances for educators posted in remote and underserved areas.
The union is pushing for not only the salary raise but also a 30% increment in allowances as part of the upcoming CBA negotiations. Otieno stressed that KNUT would not settle for less, warning that the demands reflect both economic realities and the workload facing teachers nationwide.
Echoing his sentiments, KNUT First Vice Chairman Joseph Langat appealed to Members of Parliament to allocate sufficient funds for education as they finalize the national budget and the upcoming Finance Bill.
“As MPs work on the budget, we urge them to remember the teachers who carry the future of this country in their hands,” Langat said.
With the current CBA set to expire on June 30, 2025, the union has signaled the start of an assertive push for improved compensation, setting the stage for potentially tense negotiations in the coming months.
Written By Rodney Mbua
