The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) activated the April payroll early, but TSC April salaries will not reach all teachers this cycle. Over 30,000 teachers — including newly recruited interns, replacement teachers and some promoted staff — were not captured on the April payroll and will need follow-up before they receive pay.
Key Takeaways
- Payroll for April was closed on 16 April; bank and SACCO payments were expected on 17–18 April.
- More than 35,000 teachers were missing or not paid in the April payroll, including interns and replacement recruits.
- TSC received a Ksh 24.2 billion allocation in the supplementary budget to cover salary shortfalls and SHA contributions.
- Replacement teachers are on permanent and pensionable terms with full benefits; intern teachers were recruited on one‑year contracts and earn lower stipends.
TSC April salaries: payroll closure and immediate impact
The Commission closed the April payroll on Thursday, 16 April, which allowed early processing and expected bank credits on 17 or 18 April. Despite the early closure, internal payroll checks show a significant number of teachers were not captured for payment.
Who missed pay and why?
Those omitted from the April payroll include:
- Intern teachers recruited in January on one‑year contracts.
- Replacement teachers employed on permanent and pensionable terms to fill vacancies.
- Teachers who were promoted and posted in January; many promoted staff are awaiting payroll updates tied to the Career Progression Guidelines (CPG).
Around 24,000 junior school interns and an additional 9,159 replacement teachers were recruited in January. The replacements filled 7,065 primary posts, 12 junior posts and 2,082 secondary posts. Some interns report they have not yet received any pay since starting duty; others have only received March pay with January and February arrears still outstanding.
Budget and policy context
The government approved a Supplementary Appropriations Bill in early April. The Commission received a Ksh 24.2 billion allocation intended to cover salary shortfalls and Social Health Authority (SHA) contributions for teachers. This budget move is intended to address immediate gaps, but payroll processing errors and contractual classifications have delayed payments for some staff.
Pay structure and allowances for new replacement teachers
Replacement teachers on permanent and pensionable terms receive full salary and allowance benefits. Key figures include:
- P1 teachers (Grade B5 / Primary Teacher II): basic salary from Ksh 25,028 to Ksh 31,615.
- Commuter allowance: Ksh 4,000.
- Annual leave allowance: Ksh 4,000 (paid once in January).
- Hardship allowance for qualifying areas: Ksh 6,600.
- House allowance: baseline Ksh 3,500; selected municipalities get Ksh 4,500, Nairobi gets Ksh 6,750.
Junior and senior school teachers with a diploma were placed at job group C1 while graduate teachers started at job group C2. Graduate teachers at C2 have a basic salary range of Ksh 39,070 to Ksh 49,100. Their allowances include a commuter allowance of Ksh 5,000, annual leave allowance of Ksh 6,000, hardship allowance of Ksh 10,900 (where applicable) and higher house allowances — up to Ksh 16,500 in Nairobi.
Intern teacher pay and legal developments
Junior school interns receive a monthly stipend of Ksh 20,000, typically netting around Ksh 18,000 after statutory deductions (SHA, housing levy and NSSF). The internship programme was recently challenged in court; a Court of Appeal decision has declared aspects of the internship structure unlawful, prompting TSC to review contracts and consider converting eligible interns to permanent and pensionable terms.
Interns should monitor communications from their school and TSC and keep records of duty reports and payslip requests to support any payroll queries.
Probation, promotions and automatic progression
Most new replacement teachers serve a six‑month probation before possible conversion to permanent and pensionable status. Promotion rules remain in effect: diploma holders typically move from C1 to C2 after three years, while graduates move from C2 to C3 after three years, subject to service and performance requirements.
Leaves and entitlements
Newly employed teachers are entitled to the standard TSC leave types. Common leave categories include:
- Sick Leave
- Annual Leave
- Compassionate Leave
- Paternity Leave
- Maternity Leave
- Study Leave
- Special Leave
- Adoption Leave
- Spouse of Diplomat Leave
Most leave applications are processed via the Commission’s online systems; teachers should follow employer guidance and keep copies of approvals.
What teachers should do if they missed April pay
If you did not receive pay for April:
- Notify your school head or HR immediately and request confirmation that your payroll status was submitted to TSC.
- Keep payslips and appointment letters handy; these documents support payroll corrections.
- Follow official TSC channels and any SMS or email updates regarding supplementary payroll runs.
Useful resources for teachers and candidates
While waiting for payroll resolutions, teachers and students can access free teaching and revision materials to support learning and professional duties. Useful resources include the CBC exam resources, free KCPE practice exams and KCSE revision exams.
If your pay remains unpaid after following school and TSC procedures, continue to escalate the matter through official payroll and human resource channels. Keep communication factual and provide evidence of appointments, reporting dates and any previous payslips or correspondence.
