In a landmark move aimed at easing the financial burden of teacher relocations, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has introduced a baggage allowance in the newly signed 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). This provision, agreed upon with teacher unions, marks the first time such an allowance will be offered to teachers across Kenya.
The baggage allowance is designed to support teachers when they are transferred to new duty stations by compensating them for the costs associated with moving personal belongings. According to the TSC, the allowance will be calculated based on the distance to the new station, with rates ranging from Sh43 to Sh80 per kilometre, depending on the teacher’s job group.
Teachers in job groups B5 and C1, which include newly employed primary teachers and junior secondary educators, will receive Sh43 per kilometre. Mid-level grades C2 to C5 will be compensated at Sh55 per kilometre. Senior teachers in grades D1 to D4 will receive Sh68 per kilometre, while those in the top grade, D5 chief principals will get Sh80 per kilometre.
“This is a progressive step that acknowledges the practical challenges teachers face when serving in remote or reassigned locations,” said a Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) official. “It ensures that transfers are not only administrative but also humane and dignified.”
While other allowances such as commuter, house, and hardship allowances remain unchanged, the introduction of the baggage allowance demonstrates the commission’s intent to address real-life challenges teachers face, especially those posted to hardship or insecurity-prone areas.
The CBA also includes salary increases of up to 29.5 per cent, aimed at reducing disparities across different job groups and improving teacher motivation.
Union officials have lauded the baggage allowance as a fair and much-needed inclusion, noting it will especially benefit teachers who are frequently moved due to national staffing needs. The new CBA represents a significant win for educators, who have long called for better support during transfers and relocations.
