The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has finally explained why thousands of teachers across Kenya received reduced June salaries after a sudden increase in Pay As You Earn (PAYE) deductions triggered nationwide outrage.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Commission admitted that a payroll system anomaly had mistakenly granted teachers a duplicate tax relief on National Social Security Fund (NSSF) contributions, an error that has now been corrected in the June 2026 payroll.

According to TSC, the deductions were not new taxes, instead, the Commission says the problem began during the reconfiguration of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Database (IPPD) system following amendments introduced under the Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 2024.

Additionally, the law exempted contributions made toward the Affordable Housing Levy (AHL) Fund and the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) from income tax, forcing payroll systems across government institutions to be updated to comply with the new regulations.

📌 What You Need to Know

Further, the correction immediately translated into higher PAYE deductions for teachers and Secretariat staff, leaving many shocked after noticing unexpected reductions in their take-home pay.

Some teachers accused the Commission of poor communication, arguing that employees should have been informed before the deductions were implemented, and others questioned why payroll mistakes always seem to disadvantage workers once corrected.

This followed after a majority of teachers reported an increase of about Ksh108 in income tax deductions compared to previous months, sparking fresh concerns over teachers' financial well-being amid the rising cost of living.

In a previous spot check by  Kenyans.co.ke found that a teacher who previously received a pay of Ksh10,334 this month, compared to a normal salary of Ksh10,442 after deductions, meaning the TSC cut an extra Ksh108.

The deductions sparked anger in schools and online platforms, with teachers demanding answers from the Commission over what many initially believed were fresh tax increases.

“What shocked teachers most is not just the deductions, but the silence before they appeared,” said one teacher in an online discussion forum reacting to the June payslips.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke