In what is being hailed as a major breakthrough for thousands of classroom teachers across the country, the National Assembly has officially adopted a public petition by Mwingi West MP Charles Ngusya Nguna—popularly known as CNN—seeking salary equity for teachers deployed as headteachers.
The petition, originally tabled on August 16, 2023, called for urgent intervention by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to harmonize the salaries of teachers who were deployed as school heads but left behind during the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) implementation.
“It’s a big win for Kenyan teachers,” said MP Nguna in a statement after the decision. “Parliament has now compelled the TSC to review the salaries of deployed headteachers and align them with their peers who went through the same interview process but benefited from the earlier grading structure.”
Parliament’s Position
The Public Petitions Committee, chaired by Hon. Ernest Kivai Ogesi, tabled its final report on April 30, 2025. In its recommendations, the Committee directed the TSC to:
Review the salaries and allowances of teachers deployed as headteachers and ensure parity with colleagues promoted before the July 2017 CBA.
Sensitize teachers on the outcomes of the 2015/2016 job evaluation and the 2017 conversion process.
Continuously update the National Assembly on reviews of career progression guidelines to enhance transparency.
Consider promotion-focused budget allocations in the FY 2025/2026 to address long-standing disparities raised in the petition.
While the Committee rejected the prayer to award arrears backdated to the date of deployment—citing the outcomes of the 2015/2016 job evaluation—it acknowledged the systemic concerns raised and affirmed the need for structural reforms in how teacher promotions and compensations are handled.
Petition Code: NA/DLP/TBO/PET/2025(010)
The petition, now officially referenced in parliamentary records, has been transmitted to relevant state departments and the TSC for action. Copies have also been forwarded to key government figures, including the Chief of Staff at State House.
Teachers Welcome The Move
Early reactions from education stakeholders and teachers’ unions have been positive, with many hailing MP Nguna for pushing through what they see as a long-overdue correction to an unjust disparity.
“This is the leadership we want. Hon. CNN has stood with the teaching fraternity and delivered,” said one school head in Machakos County.
As the National Assembly gears up for budget deliberations for FY 2025/2026, attention now shifts to the Treasury and whether it will prioritize the necessary funding to fully implement the promotion recommendations.
The development underscores growing parliamentary responsiveness to sector-specific concerns, especially in education, which remains a pillar of national development.
