The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has cleared junior school intern teachers and recently recruited replacement teachers for inclusion in the April payroll, with pending arrears set for payment. This update affects over 33,000 teachers and follows a government supplementary budget allocation to cover salary shortfalls and Social Health Authority (SHA) contributions.
TSC April salaries: Key Takeaways
- Who is paid: 24,000 junior school intern teachers and 9,159 replacement teachers have been cleared for April pay and arrears.
- Budget support: A supplementary allocation of Ksh 24.2 billion was approved to cover TSC salary shortfalls and SHA contributions.
- Pay amounts: Junior school interns earn a stipend of Ksh 20,000 (approximately Ksh 18,000 after deductions); replacement teachers receive full salary and allowances on permanent and pensionable terms.
- Action required: Teachers must activate TPay via their TSC County ICT officer using TSC and ID numbers to access payslips and loan services.
Background and payment timeline
The Commission employed 24,000 junior school interns on one-year contracts (1 January–31 December 2026) and 9,159 replacement teachers on permanent and pensionable terms to fill vacancies from 2025 attrition. Replacement posts include 7,065 for primary, 12 for junior schools, and 2,082 for secondary schools.
The April payroll closure and the recent supplementary appropriation — which increased total government expenditure — enabled TSC to move to clear salaries and outstanding arrears. A small number of interns received partial pay in March, but most interns and replacements had not been paid since January.
Who is affected and what they will receive
Intern teachers: Junior school interns receive a monthly stipend of Ksh 20,000, with net pay typically about Ksh 18,000 after SHIF, housing levy and NSSF deductions. The internship programme has been challenged in court and may lead to structural review or conversion to permanent terms.
Replacement teachers: Recruited on permanent and pensionable terms, replacement teachers are entitled to full salary scales and allowances after probation. Primary P1 teachers start at job group B5 with basic pay from Ksh 25,028 up to Ksh 31,615, plus commuter, housing and hardship allowances where applicable.
Allowances, promotion and benefits
Replacement teachers enjoy several allowances depending on job group and duty station:
- Commuter allowance: e.g., Ksh 4,000 for P1 teachers; Ksh 5,000 for graduate secondary teachers.
- House allowance: varies by city — examples include Ksh 3,500 standard, Ksh 4,500 in several municipalities and Ksh 6,750 in Nairobi for primary teachers; higher rates apply for secondary teacher grades.
- Hardship allowance: paid where applicable (examples: Ksh 6,600 for P1; Ksh 10,900 for graduate secondary teachers in hardship areas).
- Medical cover: comprehensive cover under SHA through monthly medical allowances.
Promotions are automatic after service thresholds: diploma holders move to the next grade after three years, and graduates progress similarly (for example, C2 to C3). Teachers also serve a probation period (commonly six months) before conversion to permanent and pensionable status.
TPay activation and accessing payslips
To access payslips and loan facilities, teachers must activate TPay. The Commission instructed teachers to contact their TSC County ICT officers and provide both their TSC number and ID number for activation. Once activated, teachers receive a username (their TSC number) and a temporary password to view online payslips and related services.
Internship legal status and practical implications
The internship programme was recently declared illegal by the Court of Appeal, prompting TSC to review the internship structure. This ruling may accelerate conversion of interns to permanent terms or require adjustments to contracts and benefits. Replacement teachers already on permanent terms will keep full statutory benefits.
Probation, leave entitlements and career progression
Teachers enjoy standard leave benefits applied via online platforms, including:
- Sick leave
- Annual leave (allowance paid once in January)
- Compassionate, maternity and paternity leave
- Study leave, special leave, adoption leave and diplomatic spouse leave
Promotion and salary progression follow TSC scales; sample annual salary ranges and allowances are documented in appointment letters and payroll guidelines.
What teachers should do next
- Contact your TSC County ICT officer immediately to activate TPay and confirm bank/payment details.
- Keep your TSC number and national ID ready; request your online payslip once TPay is active.
- If you are an intern, follow official communications about contract review and any conversion processes.
- Use available professional resources to prepare for career progression, such as Diploma in Education past papers and CBC lesson plans for classroom readiness.
- For exam and assessment support materials relevant to teaching duties, explore national exam resources like free KCPE exams.
