An allowance is a set amount of money given to a person on a regular basis to help them fulfill their needs or expenses.
A teacher in Kenya can be paid one of two types of allowances: remunerative or reimbursable.
Reimbursable allowances are normally repaid upon request, whereas remunerative allowances are paid in addition to salary.
Remunerative Allowances
There are two types of remunerative allowances namely;
- Automatic
- Those payable upon application
The following are allowances that are automatic;
- House
- Medical
- Commuter
- Hardship
Allowances payable upon application includes;
Responsibility Allowance
This allowance is paid to teachers who are headteachers, deputy headteachers and Senior teachers who are in job group K and below.
Special Duty Allowance
This allowance is paid to those teachers who are in Job group M and have been appointed to administrative positions by the commission in arid and semi arid areas
Reader Allowance
Its paid to a teacher who is visually impaired. Its usually paid at a fixed rate that is determined by the commission from time to time.
Interpreters Allowance
This one is paid to deaf teachers who engage interpreters while on study leave.
Special School Allowance
This is payable to teachers who are are specialized in special needs education or those who have been deployed to teach special schools or units.
Transfer Allowance
This allowance is paid to teachers who have been transferred from one county to another. The condition for this allowance to be paid is that the transfer must be initiated by the commission.
Reimbursable Allowances
The commission reimburses the following expenses to teachers;
Travelling expenses
To qualify for these allowances, teachers must apply using prescribed forms and attach supporting documents.
The following are the conditions under which the commission will reimburse funds to teachers;
- When the interdiction of a teacher has been revoked.
- While travelling to attend an interview.
- Travelling on a first day to your station outside home county.
- Travelling from duty station outside home county on retirement.
- Teachers working in hardship areas to and from home during school holidays.
Quota per diem
This is daily subsistence allowance paid to teachers who are in official duties. To qualify for this allowance, a teacher should apply 14 days early.
