The Salaries and Remuneration Commission has refuted claims that it had recommended Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) teachers’ and caregivers’ salaries be slashed to below the minimum wage.

In a statement, SRC Chairperson Lynn Mengich said the reports misrepresented the directive given to the 47 governors across the country. 

She added that the commission had only advised for a gross remuneration for the lowest cadre of ECDE teacher based in Nairobi to receive between 14,961 shillings and 15,842 shillings, while those based in other areas to receive between 13,211 shillings and 14,092 shillings. 

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) had vowed to oppose the SRC’s recommendations.

In a statement SRC described the report as misleading while pointing out that the ongoing media stories about ECDE teachers being set to earn reduced salaries of 7,000 shillings were based on the basic pay rather than the gross compensation. 

The commission also stated that they are now assessing the pay for all public employees, including ECDE teachers, as part of the third pay review cycle, which will be announced by June this year.