The Teachers allowances’ rates by the TSC in Kenya are reviewed after some time. Upon promotion, allowances are updated in tandem with the latest Job Group (Grade). A teacher, in Kenya, is entitled to several allowances over and above one’s monthly basic salary. The rates of such allowances are guided by different variables, such as the teacher’s job group, employee’s workstation, duties performed, and nature of learners taught.
Types of Allowances
Automatic Allowances
House Allowance
Paid monthly based on job grade and workstation. Teachers in higher job groups and those working in major municipalities receive higher allowances. Nairobi teachers receive the highest house allowance.
Commuter Allowance
Paid monthly to all teachers, depending on their job group.
Hardship Allowance
Paid monthly to teachers in insecure or harsh climatic areas. The amount depends on the teacher’s grade.
Leave Allowance
Paid annually with the January salary. The amount varies by job grade.
Allowances Paid Upon Application
Responsibility Allowance
Paid to headteachers, deputy headteachers, and senior teachers in Job Group K and below.
Special Duty Allowance
Paid to teachers below Job Group M appointed to administrative posts in arid and semi-arid lands.
Readers Allowance
Paid to visually impaired teachers who hire readers. The fixed rate is Sh15,000 per month.
Interpreters Allowance
Paid to deaf teachers who engage interpreters while on study leave.
Special School Allowance
Paid to teachers specializing in special needs education deployed in special schools or units.
Transfer Allowance
Equivalent to one month’s basic pay, paid to teachers transferred by the Commission.
Reimbursable Expenses
Traveling Expenses
Reimbursed in specific situations, such as attending an interview, first posting outside the home district, traveling on retirement, or traveling to and from hardship areas during school holidays.
Quota Per Diem
A daily subsistence allowance paid for official assignments, applied at least 14 days before traveling.
Summary
The TSC’s updated allowances for the 2024–2025 period ensure that teachers are compensated fairly based on their job group and the conditions of their work environment. The allowances support teachers in fulfilling their roles effectively, contributing to a better educational environment for students across Kenya.