The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) will pay salary arrears in May for intern and replacement teachers who began receiving monthly pay. Many intern teachers received a single month’s pay in April but were still owed arrears for earlier months; the Commission has confirmed arrears will be cleared the following month.
Key Takeaways
- TSC salary arrears for intern and replacement teachers are scheduled for payment in May.
- About 24,000 junior school interns and 9,159 replacement teachers were employed and deployed at the start of the year.
- Interns are on one-year contracts with a monthly stipend; replacement teachers are on permanent and pensionable terms with full benefits.
- Replacement teachers receive structured basic pay, allowances, medical cover through SHA, and automatic promotions after set service periods.
TSC salary arrears: who is affected
The affected groups are twofold: intern teachers recruited on one-year internship contracts and replacement teachers employed on permanent and pensionable terms. Interns were deployed from 1 January to 31 December 2026, while replacement teachers filled vacancies left by natural attrition.
Interns generally earned a monthly stipend of Ksh 20,000 before deductions and received roughly Ksh 18,000 after statutory deductions. Replacement teachers started receiving full pay and allowances after deployment and completion of probation.
Payment timeline and budget context
TSC closed the April payroll in mid-April and paid many teachers on 20 April. However, most intern and replacement teachers received only one month’s pay and still awaited arrears for earlier months. The Commission was previously declared insolvent by the Auditor General due to a budget shortfall, but a supplementary allocation of Ksh 24.2 billion was later provided to cover salary gaps, enabling arrears payments planned for May.
Salary structure and allowances
Replacement teachers receive full salary packages depending on grade and qualifications. Examples include:
- P1 / Primary Teacher II (Grade B5): basic salary Ksh 25,028–31,615; commuter allowance Ksh 4,000; annual leave allowance Ksh 4,000; hardship allowance up to Ksh 6,600; house allowance Ksh 3,500 (higher in some municipalities and Nairobi).
- Graduate secondary teachers (Job Group C2): basic salary Ksh 39,070–49,100; commuter allowance Ksh 5,000; annual leave allowance Ksh 6,000; hardship allowance up to Ksh 10,900; house allowance Ksh 9,600 (higher in listed cities and Nairobi).
All eligible teachers get medical cover under the Social Health Authority (SHA) through a monthly medical allowance. Deductions for interns commonly include SHIF, housing levy and NSSF.
Promotions and probation
Replacement and graduate teachers have automatic promotion paths: diploma holders move from C1 to C2, and graduates move from C2 to C3 after three years of service. Interns serve a defined one-year internship while replacement teachers typically complete a six-month probation before confirmation on permanent and pensionable terms.
Common leave entitlements
Teachers enjoy all statutory TSC leave types. Most leave applications are processed online; exceptions apply under special circumstances. Standard leave categories include:
- Sick Leave
- Annual Leave (with annual leave allowance paid once in January)
- Compassionate Leave
- Paternity Leave
- Maternity Leave
- Study Leave
- Special Leave
- Adoption Leave
- Spouse of Diplomat Leave
What teachers should do if arrears are still unpaid
If you remain unpaid after the announced May disbursement, take these steps:
- Confirm your payroll status with your school head or payroll officer and check the effective date on your appointment letter.
- Keep records of attendance and reporting dates that show when you started duty; the effective date of appointment affects salary calculations.
- Escalate unresolved cases to TSC county or regional offices with documented proof of deployment and work performed.
- Follow official communication channels for updates rather than relying on unverified third-party messages.
Additional resources for teachers and curriculum support
While waiting for payroll updates, teachers can access free teaching and exam resources to support classroom planning and student assessment. Useful resources include CBC exam practice materials, KCPE past papers and practice exams, and diploma-in-education past papers for professional development.
Summary
The TSC has scheduled payment of outstanding salary arrears in May for intern and replacement teachers after making partial payments in April. Replacement teachers receive full salary packages and benefits after confirmation, while interns are paid stipends under fixed contracts. If you still have unpaid arrears after the May disbursement, document your case and follow up with school and TSC payroll offices.
