Teachers employed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) will receive reimbursement for housing levy deductions unlawfully withheld from their paychecks since January 2024, following a court ruling on January 26, 2024.TSC House Levy reimbursement .
The court has instructed TSC to stop deducting 1.5% of teachers’ salaries for the housing fund, a practice initiated in July 2023 after President William Ruto enacted the controversial Finance Bill 2023. Despite expectations of refunds following TSC’s acknowledgment of the January deductions, many teachers were dismayed by similar deductions in February 2024.
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Teachers unions, including the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), are demanding explanations from TSC and have set a deadline for clarification.
The court’s decision, announced on January 26, 2024, marked a significant victory for teachers under the employ of TSC. It deemed the deductions, which began in July 2023, illegal and ordered their immediate cessation, emphasizing the unlawfulness of diverting funds from teachers’ salaries to the housing fund without consent.
President William Ruto’s enactment of the Finance Bill 2023 had made these deductions compulsory for all Kenyan workers. However, the court’s ruling overturned this, highlighting the need to respect teachers’ rights and financial autonomy.TSC House Levy reimbursement .
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Expectations were high among teachers for reimbursement of the January housing levy deductions following the court ruling. Despite TSC’s acknowledgment of the deductions, hopes were dashed when similar deductions reappeared on February payslips, shocking and angering many teachers, prompting swift action from teachers unions.
KNUT and KUPPET, representing teachers’ interests, have demanded immediate explanations from TSC regarding the repeated deductions and the delay in refunding January deductions. They have given TSC a limited timeframe to provide clear and satisfactory answers, emphasizing the urgency and seriousness of the matter.
Teachers’ rights and financial well-being are at stake, and the unions are committed to ensuring that TSC upholds its obligations and rectifies the situation promptly.TSC House Levy reimbursement .
In conclusion, the court’s ruling on housing levy deductions represents a significant victory for teachers, reaffirming their rights and financial autonomy. However, the continued deductions and delays in reimbursement highlight ongoing challenges and the need for swift and transparent action from TSC. Teachers unions are actively advocating for their members’ rights and holding TSC accountable for its actions.
Incase the refund is realized at the end, then teachers will see 1.5 per cent of their basic salary returned in March ,2024 pay for two months at the rates given below per month.
TSC teacher’s job scale grade | Basic pay per month | monthly Housing Levy deductions refund per.month |
D5 | 131,380 | 1,970.70 |
D5 | 131,380 | 1,970.70 |
D5 | 152,937 | 2,294 |
D5 | 157,656 | 2,364 |
D4 | 118,242 | 1,773 |
D4 | 121,890 | 1,828 |
D3 | 104,644 | 1,569 |
D3 | 104,644 | 1,569 |
D2 | 91,040 | 1,365 |
D1 | 77,840 | 1,167 |
D1 | 85,269 | 1,279 |
C5 | 62,272 | 934 |
C5 | 62,272 | 934 |
C5 | 62,272 | 934 |
C5 | 62,272 | 934 |
C5 | 62,272 | 934 |
C4 | 52,308 | 784 |
C4 | 52,308 | 784 |
C4 | 52,308 | 784 |
C4 | 52,308 | 784 |
C4 | 52,308 | 784 |
C3 | 43,147 | 647 |
C3 | 45,124 | 676 |
C3 | 47,183 | 707 |
C3 | 49,336 | 740 |
C3 | 51,588 | 773 |
C3 | 53,943 | 809 |
C2 | 34,955 | 524 |
C2 | 34,955 | 524 |
C2 | 34,955 | 524 |
C2 | 34,955 | 524 |
C2 | 36,280 | 544 |
C2 | 37,654 | 564 |
C2 | 39,081 | 586 |
C2 | 40,562 | 608 |
C2 | 42,O99 | 631 |
C2 | 49,694 | 745 |
C1 | 27,195 | 407 |
C1 | 28,755 | 431 |
C1 | 30,405 | 456 |
C1 | 32,149 | 482 |
C1 | 33,994 | 509 |
B5 | 21,756 | 326 |
B5 | 21,749 | 326 |
B5 | 23,787 | 356 |
B5 | 24,873 | 373 |
B5 | 26,008 | 390 |
B5 | 27,195 | 407 |