Beyond the Basic Scale: Allowances TVET Trainers Can Claim (and How)

For TVET trainers in Kenya, the compensation landscape has evolved significantly following the transition to the Public Service Commission (PSC) and the implementation of the 2025/2026 Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) pay review cycle.

Beyond the basic salary, trainers are entitled to specific job-related and administrative allowances designed to compensate for the technical and leadership demands of the sector.

1. Responsibility Allowance

This is paid to trainers who take on administrative leadership roles in addition to their teaching duties. Under the 2025/2026 guidelines, these roles are filled through a competitive “Suitability Assessment.”

• Who Qualifies: Heads of Departments (HoDs), Registrars, Deans of Students, and Deputy Principals.
• The Rates: These are tiered based on the institution’s category (National Polytechnic, Technical Training Institute, or Vocational Training Centre) and the trainer’s grade (e.g., CSG 7 to CSG 10).
• How to Claim:
  1. Appointment Letter: You must have a formal letter of appointment to the role from the Principal or the Board of Governors (BOG), later ratified by the State Department.
  2. PSC Form 4-3: Fill out the Responsibility Allowance Form.
  3. Submission: The form is signed by the Director/Principal and forwarded to the State Department for Vocational and Technical Training (SDTVET) for payroll entry.

2. Special Duty and Acting Allowance

These allowances apply when a trainer is “stepping up” to fill a vacuum in a higher grade.

• Special Duty Allowance (15%): Paid when you perform duties of a higher post but do not possess the full academic or professional qualifications for that grade.
• Acting Allowance (Up to 20%): Paid when you are fully qualified for a higher post and are appointed to act in it for at least 30 days.
• How to Claim:
  • The acting period must exceed 30 consecutive days.
  • You must submit a recommendation from the institution’s HR committee to the PSC for approval. Note: These are usually capped at 6 months unless an extension is granted.

3. Workshop & Tool Allowances (The 2026 Update)

Historically, technical trainers received standalone “Tool” and “Workshop” allowances. However, as of the July 1, 2025 SRC reforms, these have been largely consolidated to streamline the wage bill.

• Salary Market Adjustment (SMA): In 2026, the SRC merged “Extraneous Allowance” (which covered workshop hazards) into a single SMA payment. This adjustment ensures that technical trainers are paid a premium for the specialized nature of their work without having 10 different line items.
• Field/Practical Supervision: Trainers supervising trainees on industrial attachment or field projects can claim Subsistence Allowance (per diem) for travel away from their workstation, with rates starting from Ksh 4,200 to Ksh 14,000 per day depending on the location and grade.

4. House and Commuter Allowances

While “basic,” these vary significantly based on your 2026 duty station cluster:

• Cluster 1 (Nairobi): Highest rates.
• Cluster 2 (Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, etc.): Mid-tier.
• Cluster 3 (All other areas): Standard rural rates.

Summary Table: TVET Allowance Overview (2026)

Allowance Type	Typical Rate/Basis	Key Requirement
Responsibility	Tiered by Grade/Role	Competitive suitability assessment & appointment letter.
Acting	~20% of Basic Salary	Must be qualified and act for >30 days.
Special Duty	15% of Basic Salary	Performing higher duties without full qualifications.
Leave Allowance	Ksh 4,000 – 35,000 (Annual)	Paid once a year (increased in Jan 2026).
SMA	Consolidates Extraneous/Tools	Automatically applied based on technical cadre.

Pro-Tip for Trainers

If you are performing administrative duties but do not see the Responsibility Allowance on your T-Pay slip, ensure your Principal has updated the Administrators Deployment Pool at the State Department. Many claims fail because the formal appointment was never “communicated” to the PSC headquarters