TSC Bows to Pressure: Ksh 108 Reinstated in Teachers’ June Payslips
In a significant victory for accountability and labor rights within the Kenyan education sector, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has moved to address widespread grievances regarding unexplained deductions in the June 2026 payslips.
Following a wave of public concern, intense scrutiny from teachers’ unions, and a rigorous investigative report by Citizen TV, the Commission has reinstated the Ksh 108 that had been controversially deducted from teachers’ paychecks across the country.
The resolution comes as a major relief to over 300,000 teachers who had been grappling with the sudden, unexplained reduction in their net income, which occurred precisely during a period of heightened economic pressure.
The incident, which underscored the critical need for absolute transparency in payroll management, serves as a testament to the power of collective advocacy and the essential role of the media in holding public institutions accountable.
The Anatomy of an Outcry
The controversy began shortly after the TSC processed and released the June 2026 salaries.
As teachers across the nation checked their digital payslips, a uniform anomaly emerged: an unexpected increase in Pay As You Earn (PAYE) deductions.
For the majority of the workforce, this manifested as a mysterious Ksh 108 deduction, labeled as a tax adjustment.
The timing of this deduction proved particularly distressing. Without any prior notice, salary increment, or legislative change in tax brackets that would justify such an adjustment, teachers were left to grapple with a reduced take-home pay.
Given the current cost-of-living crisis, where every shilling is accounted for in the household budgets of civil servants, the discovery sparked immediate and widespread panic.
The Power of Investigative Journalism
The situation reached a breaking point when the frustration of the teaching fraternity caught the attention of Royal Media Services.
An investigative report by Citizen TV brought the issue into the national spotlight, detailing the multi-million-shilling scale of the deductions.
The media expose highlighted that while a figure of Ksh 108 might appear negligible in isolation, the cumulative impact was staggering.
With a workforce exceeding 300,000, union officials estimated that this “anomaly” resulted in approximately Ksh 32.4 million being diverted from teachers’ accounts in a single month.
This broadcast acted as a catalyst, forcing an immediate response from stakeholders and ensuring the issue could no longer be ignored or swept under the carpet.
Union Stance: Demand for Accountability
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and other stakeholders were quick to condemn the lack of communication.
In an interview on Friday, June 19, 2026, KNUT Deputy Secretary General Hesbon Otieno voiced the collective frustration of the union’s members.
He emphasized that the primary concern was not just the amount, but the procedural irregularity of the deduction.
“Others are being deducted even more depending on their grades,” Otieno remarked, highlighting the systemic nature of the error.
“Teachers are asking why there is an increase in PAYE despite the fact that there is no salary increment reflected in their payslips.”
Transparency as a Prerequisite
Otieno’s sentiments resonated across the sector. He stressed that payroll management is not merely an administrative task but a pillar of trust between the employer and the employee.
“No deduction should be made on a teacher’s payslip without them knowing exactly what it is for,” he asserted.
The union’s firm stance was that if the deduction was made in error—a conclusion that the subsequent reinstatement confirms—it was not just a courtesy but a requirement to refund the affected teachers.
The union leader also clarified the confusion regarding the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Teachers had been anticipating changes related to the 2025–2029 CBA, but they were well aware that the next phase was not scheduled until July 2026.
This awareness of their own financial timelines made the June deductions appear all the more suspicious and alarming.
Looking Ahead: The July 2026 CBA Implementation
The restoration of the funds has helped clear the air, allowing the teaching fraternity to pivot their focus back to a much more positive development: the upcoming second phase of the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
With the TSC having secured Ksh 8.4 billion—a significant portion of the Ksh 16 billion required for this phase—teachers are looking forward to substantial improvements in their basic salaries effective July 1, 2026.
This development is expected to provide much-needed financial relief and is seen as a reward for the patience and dedication of teachers across the country.
Projected Salary Scales (July 2026)
As teachers prepare for the July payroll, the focus has shifted to the anticipated salary notches.
The following table provides a breakdown of the projected salary adjustments under the second phase of the CBA:
| Job Group | T-Scale | Notch 1 (KSh) | Notch 4 (KSh) | Notch 7 (KSh) |
| B5 | T-Scale 5 | 28,620 | 32,696 | 37,100 |
| C1 | T-Scale 6 | 35,336 | 41,140 | 47,261 |
| C2 | T-Scale 7 | 41,420 | 48,914 | 57,230 |
| C3 | T-Scale 8 | 49,781 | 57,725 | 66,233 |
| C4 | T-Scale 9 | 58,585 | 67,231 | 77,120 |
| C5 | T-Scale 10 | 69,745 | 79,939 | 96,130 |
| D1 | T-Scale 11 | 80,984 | 89,596 | 99,272 |
| D2 | T-Scale 12 | 91,041 | 101,211 | 114,147 |
| D3 | T-Scale 13 | 104,644 | 113,766 | 127,069 |
| D4 | T-Scale 14 | 118,242 | 129,110 | 143,587 |
| D5 | T-Scale 15 | 135,321 | 147,867 | N/A |
(Note: The above figures represent key notches; full increments apply across all seven notches for most scales.)
Conclusion: A Lesson in Governance
The events of June 2026 serve as a vital case study in modern industrial relations in Kenya.
The rapid intervention by the TSC to reverse the Ksh 108 deduction suggests a recognition of the sensitivity of public sector payrolls.
When thousands of employees are affected simultaneously, the margin for error must be zero, and communication must be proactive.
As teachers move toward the implementation of the new salary scales in July, the atmosphere is cautiously optimistic.
The success of the unions in securing the reinstatement of the funds has reinforced the belief that advocacy works.
Furthermore, the commitment of the government to honor the CBA payments despite challenging economic conditions demonstrates a concerted effort to support the education sector.
For the TSC, the path forward is clear: maintaining the integrity of the payroll is essential to fostering a motivated and focused teaching workforce.
For the teachers, the successful resolution of this issue stands as a victory for the principle that every earned shilling must be protected, and that transparency remains the bedrock of a healthy employer-employee relationship.
What specific questions or concerns do you have regarding the upcoming CBA salary implementation in July, and how do you believe the TSC can further improve communication regarding payroll changes?
