Kuppet strikes Sh16bn perks deal

PHOTO | STEPHEN MUDIARI Kuppet Chairman Omboko Milemba (left) Secretary-General Akello Misori (centre) and TSC boss Benjamin Lengoiboni address the media at TSC offices in Nairobi, on July 10, 2013.

What you need to know:

  • TSC signs agreement with lobby increasing allowances of striking instructors, as it also introduces a new one

The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) has signed a Sh16 billion agreement with the government to increase allowances for teachers.

This will see the salary of the lowest paid teacher, who takes home a basic salary of Sh19,032, increase by Sh4,000 in commuter allowance up from the current Sh1,000.

At the same time, that of the highest paid—a chief principal—will increase to Sh16,000 up from the current Sh4,410 for the same allowance.

However, the offer on commuter allowance will be implemented until 2016, the memorandum of understanding between Kuppet and Teachers Service Commission shows.

Although the union represents secondary school teachers only, primary school teachers who are members of the rival Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) will benefit from the deal too.

In total, it will cost the government Sh16.8 billion to effect the allowance for the 278, 060 teachers in the payroll.

“The government offer will target commuter, responsibility, special schools, readers and medical allowances in line with the demands by Kuppet and Knut,” TSC Chief Executive Officer Gabriel Lengoiboni said.

On medical allowance, Mr Lengoiboni said the government would negotiate with National Hospital Insurance Fund to cover for all teachers.

“This is considered more appropriate in responding to the current health challenges facing teachers and their dependants,” he noted.

Other allowances include special school allowance, where teachers in these institutions will earn a flat rate of Sh10, 000 per month.

“This is intended to recognise the additional efforts and special circumstances for teachers handling children with special needs.”

TSC has also brought on board a new allowance — reading allowance — for the teachers of visually impaired students who will earn a new rate of Sh15,000 per month.

Principals, their deputies and heads of departments will earn a responsibility allowance too. Kuppet secretary-general Akello Misori said the agreement was borne out of commitment between the union and the government, and asked teachers to report to work.

“TSC has given its commitment to the teachers and we are asking all our members to report to their stations of work in line with the agreement.”

But Knut said it was not a part of the deal, maintaining that it would still need the implementation of its 1997 agreement to call off the strike.