Thousands of teachers who are, right now, doing the job in an acting role as principals, deputy principals, and head teachers are staring at a bleak situation where they may carry on without any extra pay. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has officially let out that there is a Sh2.2 billion budget gap, and it turns out the money meant for acting allowances was left out completely from the 2026/2027 financial plan.
This came out in front of the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Education. During the session, TSC officials said the absence of that allocation means they cannot settle or reward the educators who have stepped up, in that quiet but necessary way, to cover the administrative gaps in public schools.
For many of the teachers, the lack of pay tied to higher duties is not only a budget problem; it’s also a proper morale hit, the kind that makes people feel less valued.
The Acting TSC Chief Executive Officer, Eveleen Mitei, warned that the budget squeeze could end up disrupting school operations. “The payment of acting allowances for administrators in acting positions, estimated at Sh2.2 billion, has not been factored into the budget,” Mitei said, and in that statement she made it clear there is serious money pressure within the commission.
Since then, the matter has sparked quite a storm in the education sector, with teacher unions and lawmakers pushing for urgent measures. For years, educators have complained about being held in acting positions for long stretches, sometimes for years, without being confirmed or receiving the matching financial benefits.
And this new shortfall simply adds on top of the old worry, because teachers keep carrying the extra weight of leadership work while getting only their base salaries.
Leave a Reply