The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has flagged delays that may cause some junior school interns to miss the TSC January payroll. This update explains why the delays happened, what the Commission required from intern teachers, and how leave allowances affect January pay.
Key Takeaways
- TSC January salaries may be delayed for some junior school (JSS) interns due to late or incorrect submission of status details.
- Interns were required to accept or decline a one‑year contract renewal and those accepting must supply a valid Personal Accident Cover.
- TSC closed the January payroll and teachers with unresolved records should expect February pay together with January arrears.
- Only permanent and pensionable teachers who have served at least one year receive the annual leave allowance; interns and contract teachers are not eligible.
TSC January salaries: what happened
In January, TSC had extended the internship for junior school teachers for a second year, with the new contract running from 1 January to 31 December 2026. Each intern was given an offer and asked to either accept or decline the extension. The Commission required Sub‑County Directors to collect and forward acceptance/decline records, offer letters and a county summary to Director Staffing by 23 January 2026.
Why some JSS intern teachers may miss payroll
TSC relies on the online casualty (Entry/Exit) portal to determine which interns accepted the renewal and are therefore eligible for pay. Where lists were submitted late, or where entries were rejected because details were incorrectly captured, TSC could not confirm a teacher’s status in time for the January payroll run. Once the payroll was closed, those unresolved cases could not be added and payments were deferred.
Commission requirements and common issues
- Teachers who accepted the renewal were required to submit a valid Personal Accident Cover for the 2026 period.
- Teachers who declined the renewal needed to hand over any institutional property and formally clear with the Head of Institution.
- Some delays were attributed to acting principals in junior schools who did not submit required information promptly.
- TSC must verify each record before releasing funds, so late or incorrect entries directly affect payment timing.
Payroll timing and arrears
Because TSC closed the January payroll, affected interns should expect their January pay to be combined with February salaries. The Commission has indicated that salary credits to bank and SACCO accounts will begin on the next scheduled pay run date; teachers are advised to monitor their accounts for combined payments.
Annual leave allowance: who qualifies and rates
Only teachers employed on permanent and pensionable terms who have served at least one year qualify for the annual leave allowance, which is paid once each January. Intern teachers and teachers on contract are not eligible for this allowance.
The allowance range under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA 2025–2029) is shown below (gross amounts):
- B5: KSh 4,000 (net ~KSh 3,675 after PAYE)
- C1: KSh 4,000 (net ~KSh 3,675 after PAYE)
- C2 – C5: KSh 6,000 (net ~KSh 5,450 after PAYE)
- D1 – D5: KSh 10,000 (net ~KSh 9,187 after PAYE)
What affected teachers should do now
- Confirm with your Sub‑County Director or headteacher that your acceptance/decline status and personal details were submitted and correctly captured on the casualty portal.
- If you accepted the renewal, verify that a valid Personal Accident Cover was uploaded and meets TSC requirements.
- If you declined, ensure you completed the clearance process and documented the handover of any school property.
- Keep receipts or screenshots of submissions and correspondence to support any follow‑up with TSC.
Resources for teachers and classroom planning
While awaiting payroll resolution, teachers can use time to prepare curriculum and exam resources. Useful resources include the CBC curriculum designs and the free CBC lesson plans. Primary teachers can also download the Grade 6 schemes of work to support term planning.
Final notes
Delays in TSC January salaries for some JSS interns stem from administrative submission and data‑capture issues. The Commission has set submission deadlines and uses the casualty portal to determine pay eligibility, so prompt and accurate reporting by school administrators is essential. Affected teachers should follow the steps above and keep records to expedite any corrections.
