Kenyan teachers expecting to enjoy a pay increase under the newly implemented 2025–2026 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) were left stunned and frustrated after noticing a new and unexplained deduction on their payslips.
Labeled ‘KUPPET SWAL’, the mysterious deduction appeared alongside the usual union dues, sparking confusion and anger among educators nationwide.
Many teachers were caught completely off guard, as they had never heard of the ‘KUPPET SWAL’ charge before.
Those from the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) in Nakuru voiced their outrage on Wednesday, July 30, demanding immediate answers from both the union’s national office and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
“We woke up to an unpleasant surprise on our payslips. Teachers were expecting to smile all the way to the bank after the long-awaited CBA raise. Instead, we found a new deduction labeled ‘KUPPET SWAL’—a deduction that no one explained or approved,” said a representative of the affected teachers.
Teachers expressed their deep disappointment, noting that many are already struggling with shrinking pay due to recent statutory deductions like the Housing Levy and the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHA).
The sudden appearance of another unexplained charge has left many feeling overwhelmed and financially strained.
“These deductions are taking a toll on us. We’re already paying a 1.8% union fee from our basic salary. Adding another deduction without any explanation or prior consent is simply unacceptable,” the teachers stated.
They further demanded that the TSC and KUPPET’s National Executive Board either give a full explanation of the new deduction or immediately halt it and refund the money to teachers who have already been affected.
“We are classroom teachers. We are the ones at the heart of education. This deduction is unlawful, and we demand that it be stopped immediately. Teachers must be refunded every single coin that was deducted under ‘KUPPET SWAL’,” they added, visibly distressed.
The frustration was evident as teachers shared how the uncertainty and lack of transparency are affecting their mental well-being and focus in classrooms.
“Teachers are stressed, distressed, and unsettled. How do you expect us to teach effectively when our payslips are bleeding? We deserve clarity and respect,” they lamented.
This development comes just days after the rollout of a revised salary structure agreed upon in the Ksh33 billion 2025–2026 CBA, signed on July 19 and backdated to take effect from July 1.
The agreement was signed by the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), KUPPET, and the Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET), and was expected to bring relief and improved earnings to teachers.
Instead, the rollout has now been marred by controversy, with the unexplained ‘KUPPET SWAL’ deduction threatening to erode trust in the unions and the government’s payroll transparency.
Teachers are now calling on union leaders and government agencies to act swiftly and decisively to resolve the matter and restore confidence among educators.
Join Gen Z New WhatsApp Channel To Stay Updated On time https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30
