TSC Acting CEO Eveleen Mitei Launches 2025–2029 CBA Talks With Teacher Unions As Salary Hike, Allowances And Leave Benefits Take Center Stage

TSC Acting CEO Mitei Kicks Off 2025–2029 CBA Talks Prioritizing Teacher Pay & Benefits.

In a major development that has sparked renewed optimism among educators across Kenya, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has officially invited teacher unions for a fresh round of talks on the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Spearheading these crucial negotiations is TSC’s acting CEO and Secretary, Eveleen Mitei, who has assumed leadership following the departure of long-serving CEO Nancy Macharia.

 

This announcement comes at a critical time when tensions are running high, with looming threats of industrial action from teacher unions over stalled salary reviews and allowances. With the current CBA 2021–2025 set to expire at the end of June, teachers are looking to the new talks for answers regarding their pay and welfare.

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TSC Calls Teachers’ Unions to the Table Amid Strike Tensions

In a formal communication addressed to the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), Eveleen Mitei has summoned union officials for a consultative meeting scheduled for 2nd July 2025 at the Commission’s headquarters in Upper Hill, Nairobi. This proactive step comes just days after KUPPET issued a 7-day strike notice, citing the TSC’s delay in convening CBA negotiations.

 

According to the circular, Mitei has expressed the Commission’s readiness to engage constructively on all CBA-related matters and emphasized the importance of dialogue in resolving grievances. This marks her first high-profile engagement since stepping in as acting CEO, and her leadership will be closely watched by both educators and government stakeholders.

 

New CBA to Address Salary Reviews and Teacher Welfare

As the clock ticks toward the expiration of the current agreement, the 2025–2029 CBA negotiations are expected to cover a wide range of critical issues. Top on the list is the adjustment of basic salaries and allowances, a matter that has long fueled unrest among teachers.

 

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) is calling for a 60 percent increase in basic pay over the four-year period, citing the rising cost of living and inflationary pressures. The union is also pushing for a 30 percent increase in existing allowances, including hardship and commuter allowances.

 

This aggressive proposal is expected to test the government’s fiscal commitment to the teaching profession, especially after the recently announced national budget lacked specific allocations for teacher salary increments.

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Hardship Allowance and Area Reclassification on the Agenda

Another key issue to be addressed in the upcoming CBA is the review of hardship allowances and reclassification of designated hardship zones. KNUT is proposing that TSC and teacher unions jointly conduct regular assessments to determine which regions should retain or lose hardship status.

 

Teachers posted in remote, insecure, or infrastructure-deprived areas often struggle with challenging working conditions, yet feel neglected when it comes to additional compensation. With Mitei at the helm of these talks, there is renewed hope that teacher concerns in hardship areas will finally be addressed with seriousness.

 

In line with this, KNUT proposes that either party can initiate a hardship area review by providing a three-month notice outlining the reason and nature of the proposed changes.

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Risk Allowance for Technical and Science Teachers

In an effort to protect and motivate teachers working in high-demand and potentially hazardous environments, KNUT is also advocating for a monthly risk allowance. The proposal suggests that teachers handling science and technical subjects receive an additional 10 percent of their basic salary as compensation for the unique risks and responsibilities they face.

 

This allowance is particularly relevant as Kenya gears up to strengthen the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) curriculum across junior and senior secondary schools. Teachers in these subjects play a critical role in shaping the country’s future workforce and therefore deserve adequate recognition and support.

 

Teachers’ Leave Policy Under Review

The draft CBA also seeks to enhance leave benefits for teachers. KNUT wants teachers to be entitled to 30 working days of annual leave with full pay after completing one year of service. Additionally, newly hired teachers would qualify for paid leave on a prorated basis depending on their date of appointment.

 

The proposal also recommends that no leave be delayed for more than two months without mutual consent, and in cases where employment ends mid-year, affected teachers should still receive pro-rata leave pay and travel allowance.

 

Furthermore, TSC may allow deferment of leave to the following year under special circumstances, provided it is taken before the end of that subsequent year.

 

Sick Leave and Convalescent Leave Entitlements

The union has also included strong provisions regarding sick leave and convalescent leave in the proposed CBA. KNUT is advocating for up to one year of sick leave, with the first 180 days fully paid and the next 180 days on half pay. A teacher would be eligible upon providing a valid medical certificate from a recognized medical institution.

 

Also included is a proposal for convalescent leave, which would allow teachers time off to fully recover from illness or injury before resuming their duties. This human-centered approach aims to safeguard teacher health while preserving job security and income.

 

Importantly, KNUT insists that no teacher should be dismissed due to sickness without express authorization, and that absence due to illness must be reported within 48 hours, preferably through online systems.

 

What This Means for Teachers and the Education Sector

The upcoming negotiations come at a time of heightened anxiety among educators, who have been grappling with inflation, rising living costs, and delayed policy responses. Many had feared that the current administration had deprioritized teacher welfare, especially after the national budget excluded salary-related components.

 

However, the entry of Eveleen Mitei as acting TSC CEO could be a turning point. Her swift move to initiate dialogue with teacher unions suggests a willingness to resolve disputes constructively and acknowledge the invaluable role that teachers play in shaping the nation.

 

If successful, the CBA 2025–2029 will not only bring financial relief to teachers but also restore confidence in the education sector’s leadership.

 

What to Expect Next

With talks beginning in early July, teachers are hopeful that any agreed salary adjustments will be reflected in the July 2025 payroll, subject to Treasury’s approval through a supplementary budget. Mitei’s leadership will be critical in ensuring the process is transparent, timely, and inclusive.

 

Union officials, in turn, are under pressure to represent their members boldly while balancing national economic constraints. If both parties remain committed, these talks could mark the beginning of a renewed era of harmony between TSC and educators.

 

Final Thoughts

As Kenya’s teaching workforce awaits the outcome of the 2025–2029 CBA negotiations, the spotlight is firmly on the TSC’s new leadership. Acting CEO Eveleen Mitei has already made a strong first impression by convening the talks early and engaging union representatives. Her next steps will determine not just salary revisions, but the morale, retention, and productivity of teachers nationwide.

 

Whether it’s increased allowances, better leave policies, or fair risk compensation, one thing is clear—teachers are ready for change, and the 2025 CBA could be the vehicle that delivers it.

TSC Acting CEO Mitei Kicks Off 2025–2029 CBA Talks Prioritizing Teacher Pay & Benefits.