The National Assembly has directed three government agencies to provide a detailed explanation within a month on how hardship allowances for teachers are allocated, following concerns of unfair distribution and favoritism in teacher deployment and promotions.

The National Assembly Committee on Implementation questioned the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), accusing it of selectively promoting and deploying teachers to rural schools that attract hardship allowances, while sidelining local educators.

Kajiado East MP Kakuta Maimai told the committee that TSC was favouring teachers from urban areas by posting them to hardship zones and giving them leadership positions, a move he said had sparked discontent among local teachers.

MPsachers. But as you go into the interior of my constituency, there is a big shortage in every school. I don't know what formula is used by TSC uses in Kajiado,” he said.

Appearing before the committee were TSC Acting Secretary Eveleen Mitei, Public Service Principal Secretary Jane Imbunya, and SRC Acting Secretary Margaret Njoka.

They were responding to a public petition seeking an increase in house allowances for teachers living and working in Kilifi municipality.

Njoka told MPs that SRC depends on reports from the Ministry of Public Service to define areas that qualify for hardship allowances.

“I wish to note that the court recommendation review cycle has now started this month of July, and house allowance is one of the areas that we are considering in terms of the review. So yes, we are aware of the disparities that are arising from having the three clusters. But we also wish that, because it is progressive harmonisation, we are also in the discussion in the National Treasury so that we can get the necessary funding,” she said.

PS Imbunya told the committee that the matter raised in the petition was within the responsibilities of SRC and TSC. She explained that the pay rates for cluster 3 (other former municipalities) and cluster 4 (other areas) had already been aligned as of July 1 last year.

“This means that teachers stationed in Kilifi Municipality are being paid rates in cluster 3. The issue of payment of enhanced house allowance for teachers stationed in Kilifi Municipality has been resolved by SRC and TSC,” she said.

Mitei defended the newly signed 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), saying teachers and their unions had submitted proposals that were taken into account during negotiations.

She said the unions had pushed for an increase of between 30 and 50 per cent in house allowance, but the TSC settled on retaining the existing rates due to budget limitations.

She said the current allowances remain based on three categories — Nairobi, major municipalities, and other areas.