The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) recently updated the list of all recognized hardship areas among them new areas while others were removed due to a change in infrastructure and other factors.
Teachers teaching in schools located in recognized areas of hardships are paid a hardship allowance which serves as motivation. Conditions in hardship areas make teachers endure situations that are difficult as compared to normal working conditions in other areas.
Hardship areas have a poor environment to work in and even pose risks to the health of teachers.
Last Tuesday, TSC revealed that it is waiting for the Public Service Commission (PSC) to release a new map of hardship areas. After this teachers in hardship areas will start getting hardship allowances in following with the set payment guidelines of the Commission.
The current mapping was done a few years ago and is set to undergo updating.
It is important to note that while the Commission has recognized some counties as hardship areas, they have not recognized all sub-counties in those hardship centres.
Some of the Counties that have been excluded from the list of hardships areas due to factors like improved infrastructure include Murang’a County, Kandara sub-county, Nyandarua County, Nyahururu county and Kigumo sub-county.
TSC Hardship areas
S/NO | COUNTY (and recognized sub-counties) |
1. | Suba and Mbita Sub Counties in Homa Bay County |
2. | Garissa County |
3. | Baringo North, Tiaty East, Tiaty West and Marigat sub-counties in Baringo County |
4. | Isiolo County |
5. | Mashuuru, Loitoktok and Kajiado West sub-counties in Kajiado County |
6. | Kwale County |
7. | Magarini and Ganze in Kilifi County |
8. | Lamu County |
9. | Marsabit County |
10. | Mumoni, Mutito North and Tseikuru Sub-counties in Kitui Couty |
11. | Narok South and Narok North sub-counties in Narok County |
12. | Mandera County |
13. | Samburu County |
14. | Taita Taveta County |
15. | West Pokot County |
16. | Turkana County |
17. | Wajir County |
18. | Tana River County |
TSC’s Hardship Allowances according To Job Grades
Job Grade | Hardship Allowance |
B5 | 6,600 |
C1 | 8,200 |
C2 | 10,900 |
C3 | 12,300 |
C4 | 14,650 |
C5 | 17,100 |
D1 | 27,300 |
D2 | 27,300 |
D3 | 31,500 |
D4 | 31,500 |
D5 | 38,100 |
It is important to note that payment of hardship allowances in the newly recognized hardship areas will only be done once hardship areas are gazette and a budget to capture the new areas is passed.