In Kenya, teachers receive a house allowance, a benefit provided by their employer, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), to assist with housing costs.
This allowance is a common component of the compensation package for teachers and varies depending on the job group and location.
TSC categorizes teachers’ housing allowances into four broad areas based on the location of service.
Cluster 1 includes Nairobi City, while Cluster 2 covers major urban centres like Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, and several municipalities, including Nyeri, Eldoret, Thika, Kisii, Malindi, and Kitale.
Cluster 3 pertains to other former municipalities, while Cluster 4 includes all other areas, which represent approximately 87% of the public teaching service, largely in rural areas.
TSC House Allowances
Following the implementation of the second phase of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the housing allowances for teachers in Cluster 1 range from Ksh 6,750 to Ksh 50,000, depending on the teacher’s job group.
The highest-paid Chief Principal in Job Group D5 earns a house allowance of Ksh 50,000, followed by the Senior Principal in Job Group D4, who earns Ksh 45,000.
Also Read: TSC CEO Nancy Macharia Announces Her Retirement
Additionally, employees in Job Groups D1-D3, including positions such as Senior Principal, Principal, Deputy Principal I, Deputy Principal II, Senior Master I, Senior Lecturer I, and Senior Master II (D1) also receive a house allowance of Ksh 45,000.
Others with the same amount are Deputy Principal III, Senior Head Teacher, Senior Lecturer II, and Curriculum Support Officer I,
In major cities and towns like Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret, and Nyeri, the housing allowance ranges from Ksh 4,500 to Ksh 35,000.
For educators in areas categorized as former municipalities, the housing allowance is between Ksh 3,850 and Ksh 25,000.
Teachers in Job Group C5, which includes Senior Master III, Senior Lecturer III, Head Teacher, Deputy Head Teacher I, and Curriculum Support Officer II, working in Nairobi receive a monthly house allowance of Ksh 35,000.
Meanwhile, educators in Job Groups C3 and C4 located in Nairobi receive Ksh 28,000 as their housing allowance, while those in Job Group C2 receive Ksh 16,500.
Also Read: Govt Converts 46,000 Intern Teachers to Permanent and Pensionable Employment Terms
House Allowances Based on Job Groups and Clusters
| Grade | TSC Scale | Cluster 1 (Nairobi City) | Cluster 2 (Other Major Cities) | Cluster 3 (Other Areas) |
| B5 | 5 | 6,750 | 4,500 | 3,850 |
| C1 | 6 | 10,000 | 7,500 | 5,800 |
| C2 | 7 | 16,500 | 12,800 | 9,600 |
| C3 | 8 | 28,000 | 22,000 | 16,500 |
| C4 | 9 | 28,000 | 22,000 | 16,500 |
| C5 | 10 | 35,000 | 25,500 | 18,000 |
| D1 | 11 | 45,000 | 28,000 | 21,000 |
| D2 | 12 | 45,000 | 28,000 | 21,000 |
| D3 | 13 | 45,000 | 28,000 | 21,000 |
| D4 | 14 | 45,000 | 28,000 | 21,000 |
| D5 | 15 | 50,000 | 35,000 | 25,000 |
Meanwhile, the lowest-paid teacher at Grade B5 will now receive a basic salary of Ksh 23,830, an increase from the previous Ksh 22,739.
Senior teachers at the primary school level in Grade C2, who were previously earning Ksh 45,776, received a basic salary rise to Ksh 47,858.
Teachers in Grade C5, such as primary school headteachers, will experience a salary increase from Ksh 78,667 to Ksh 79,651.
The highest-paid teacher, a chief principal at Grade D5, will see their basic salary rise from Ksh 159,534 to Ksh 162,539.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and join our WhatsApp Group for real-time news updates
