The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has implemented the Phase 2 CBA effective 1 July 2026, resulting in revised pay points and allowances for teachers. This circular sets new salary conversion tables, keeps existing job titles, and confirms continued payment of allowances. If you are a teacher in service on 1 July 2026 (excluding interns), these changes affect your basic pay, allowances and incremental dates.
Key Takeaways
- TSC July salary increments under Phase 2 take effect from 1 July 2026 and run to 30 June 2027.
- All teachers in service as at 1 July 2026 (except interns) will move to new salary points using the conversion tables provided.
- Incremental dates are retained; if an increment falls on 1 July 2026 you receive the annual increment then convert to the new scale the same day.
- Allowances (house, baggage, hardship, commuter, annual leave and disability guide) continue where applicable and are listed by grade and cluster.
- Teachers should check the salary conversion table for their grade to confirm new basic pay and allowances.
TSC July salary increments: What teachers need to know
The main change from the circular is the conversion of existing salary points to new T-scales for each grade. The implementation covers grades from B5 (Primary Teacher II) up to D5 (Chief Principal). The circular includes Tables 2–12 showing the basic salary before and after conversion for each salary point and grade. These tables determine the new basic pay you will receive on payroll with effect from 1 July 2026.
Who is covered and the implementation period
This circular applies to all teachers in service as at 1 July 2026, excluding intern teachers. The effective period for Phase 2 is 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. If you began service after 1 July 2026 you are not covered by this Phase 2 implementation.
Incremental dates and annual increments
Teachers retain their current incremental dates when converting to the new salary scales. If your annual increment date falls on 1 July 2026, you will first receive the annual increment on your existing scale and then be moved to the corresponding point on the new scale the same day. Annual increments will continue to be applied as provided in the Code of Regulations for Teachers (2015).
Salary conversion overview
The circular provides conversion tables per grade. Examples include:
- Grade D5 (T-Scale 15) – Chief Principals (Table 2).
- Grade C1–C5 – Primary and secondary teacher grades (Tables 7–11).
- Grade B5 (T-Scale 5) – Primary Teacher II (Table 12).
Each table lists the basic salary points as at 1 July 2025 and the corresponding basic salary points and amounts effective 1 July 2026. Teachers should locate their current salary point and map it to the new point and amount.
Allowances: what stays and how much
Allowances remain payable where applicable. The circular lists three appendices with rates by grade and cluster:
- Appendix A – Baggage allowance (rates per kilometre by grade).
- Appendix B – House allowance (cluster 1, 2 and 3 rates by grade).
- Appendix C – Hardship allowance, commuter allowance, annual leave allowance and disability guide allowance (fixed rates by grade).
Check the appendix corresponding to your grade for the exact allowance amounts. For example, house allowance varies significantly by cluster, with Nairobi (Cluster 1) receiving higher rates than minor municipalities (Cluster 3).
Practical steps for teachers
- Locate your current grade and salary point and then find the matching conversion table to confirm your new basic salary.
- Confirm your retained incremental date with your payroll or Human Resources office.
- Verify allowance entitlement and cluster classification with your employer to ensure correct payments.
- If you are a newly promoted teacher, ensure promotions and conversions are correctly reflected on TSC payroll records.
Where to get study and professional resources
While you review the circular and payroll changes, consider using training and exam resources to support professional development. For example, classroom resources and curriculum designs for teachers are available in our CBC resources, and past papers help teachers preparing trainees and students:
- Diploma in Education past papers — useful for teacher trainers and tutors preparing certificate and diploma candidates.
- Bachelor of Education (Arts) past papers — helpful for degree-level professional development and refresher study.
- CBC lesson plans and teaching notes — practical classroom resources aligned to the Competency-Based Curriculum.
Frequently asked questions (short answers)
- When do the new salaries apply? From 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 for Phase 2.
- Do incremental dates change? No — teachers keep their existing incremental dates.
- Are allowances still paid? Yes — baggage, house, hardship, commuter, annual leave and disability guide allowances remain payable where applicable.
- Who is excluded? Intern teachers are excluded from Phase 2 implementation.
Next steps
Confirm your new salary point and allowances with your payroll or TSC regional office. Keep a copy of the circular and the specific conversion table for your grade. If you need study materials to support professional growth or to help trainee teachers, use the linked past papers and CBC lesson plans above to strengthen classroom practice and exam preparation.
