TSC Secures Sh8.4 Billion for Teachers’ July CBA as Radical CPG Overhaul Formally Unveiled
NAIROBI, Kenya — The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has secured Ksh 8.4 billion to fund Phase Two of the teachers’ Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026.
The financial breakthrough was revealed following high-stakes consultative talks between the commission and KUPPET, culminating in a fiery National Governing Council (NGC) meeting held by KUPPET following their national elections plans.
Representing TSC Acting CEO Ms. Evelyn Mitei, the Commission’s Director for Legal Services, Mr. Calvin Anyuor, addressed union officials, laying down a comprehensive roadmap on salaries, a radical rewrite of promotional guidelines, and the fate of tens of thousands of intern teachers.
1. The July CBA: A Sh16.8 Billion Treasury Puzzle
While the TSC has successfully locked in Ksh 8.4 billion for the upcoming July cycle, Mr. Anyuor revealed that the commission is still locked in intense negotiations with the National Treasury.
Following a Presidential proclamation directing that the 2025–2029 CBA be fully implemented in two phases, the total financial requirement stands at Ksh 16.8 billion.
The TSC is currently working out the technical modalities with the Exchequer to bridge the remaining deficit and ensure teachers receive their adjusted payouts without delay.
2. The Death of CPG: Promotion Window Slashed from 36 to 15 Years
In what may be the biggest structural victory for teachers in decades, the TSC confirmed that the controversial Career Progression Guidelines (CPG) will officially lapse in June 2026.
A specialized technical team has finalized a replacement framework, which has already been approved by the TSC Board.
Under the old, heavily criticized CPG system, it took an agonizing 36 years for a teacher to rise through the ranks to attain Job Group D5.
The New Model:
Abolition of Grades: The current system of “C” and “D” job groups will be entirely phased out.
Introduction of Levels: Teachers will now navigate a simplified structure spanning Levels 1 to 6.
Accelerated Growth: The time required to reach the highest job group will be effectively cut in half, taking just 15 to 18 years.
The document is slated to be released to the public for stakeholder participation in the coming weeks.
3. Sh2 Billion for Mass Promotions and Affirmative Action
Turning to career advancement, Mr. Anyuor announced that the TSC has earmarked Ksh 2 billion to facilitate the mass promotion of 30,000 teachers in August 2026.
Responding to intense lobbying from union representatives regarding teachers who have stagnated in marginalized areas, the TSC legal boss assured the council that affirmative action policies are being actively reconsidered.
However, Anyuor issued a stern caveat to union heads, urging them to support the commission and refrain from raising administrative objections whenever vulnerable members benefit from localized affirmative action considerations.
4. Roadmap for the Confirmation of 44,000 Interns
The commission provided a definitive timeline for the transitioning of contract teachers to permanent employment. The TSC plans to split the confirmation of 44,000 intern teachers into two distinct phases:
Phase 1: 20,000 intern teachers will be confirmed on Permanent and Pensionable (P&P) terms immediately.
Phase 2: The remaining 24,000 interns will be fully onboarded into the permanent workforce before the end of December 2026.
5. The JSS Autonomy Ultimatum
Amid ongoing friction over the Ministry of Education’s recent proposal to merge primary and Junior Secondary School (JSS) capitation accounts under a single Board of Management, the TSC dropped a tactical warning.
Mr. Anyuor advised union leadership to urgently draft a detailed concept paper outlining the exact cost implications of an independent JSS system and submit it directly to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba.
He warned that a failure by the unions to provide this financial justification immediately could completely jeopardize the legal and administrative push for total JSS autonomy.
The Line in the Sand: KUPPET Issues Strict Counter-Demands
Despite welcoming the TSC’s financial updates, KUPPET’s National Governing Council struck a defiant stance during a press briefing immediately following the session.
Refusing to settle for half-measures, the union drew a line in the sand, issuing five non-negotiable demands:
1) Strict CBA Compliance: The CBA must be fully executed in two phases exactly as dictated by the Presidential proclamation, without fiscal reductions.
2) Clear the Stagnation Backlog: Immediate promotions must be granted to the 135,000 teachers who have been stuck in single job groups for years, alongside the rapid delivery of the 50,000 promotions promised directly by the Head of State.
3) Immediate Public Scrutiny of New CPG: The proposed Level 1–6 career guidelines must be released immediately for public scrutiny and teacher verification.
4) No Split Confirmations: KUPPET demands that all 44,000 intern teachers be transitioned to P&P terms concurrently and without delay, rejecting the TSC’s phased approach.
5) Non-Negotiable JSS Autonomy: The union declared that the complete independence of Junior Secondary Schools from primary school management must be upheld structurally, stating there is zero room for negotiation on the matter.
With billions of shillings secured but systemic structural overhauls still hanging in the balance, the coming months leading up to July 1st will prove to be a defining period for the Kenyan education sector.