TSC attributes June PAYE increase on teachers’ payslips to payroll error
TSC attributes June PAYE increase on teachers’ payslips to payroll error
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
Further, the Commission has defended the move, insisting the adjustment was necessary to align payroll deductions with existing tax laws and ensure accurate PAYE computation going forward.
Yet even as the Commission attempts to calm the uproar, the controversy has reignited broader concerns over the shrinking disposable income of Kenyan teachers.
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