Gazetted hardship areas in Kenya By TSC [UPDATED] + Allowances

The Teacher Service Commission (TSC) is a body that employs and dismisses teachers in Kenya. For primary school recruitment, the body can post a teacher in any school in Kenya, regardless of whether the teacher applied for that school or not.

However, secondary school teachers have the privilege of choosing a school to be employed since their vacancies are advertised publicly.

Despite the fact that teachers working in certain regions in Kenya are paid hardship allowances, the kind of risks they face are life-threatening. Apart from harsh climatic conditions, insecurity is one factor that qualifies a place to be mapped under hardship areas.

Teachers in hardships regions face myriads of problems ranging from poor infrastructures to shockingly bad working conditions. The following are counties (sub-counties) that have been mapped by the commission as hardship areas for teachers in Kenya; 

TSC UPDATED THE LIST OF HARDSHIP AREAS AS CAPTURED IN THE 2021-2025 CBA.

Here is the updated list of all areas classified as hardship by the Commission:

S/NO	HARDSHIP AREA	COUNTY
1	Baringo North Sub County	Baringo County
2	Tiaty East Sub County	Baringo County
3	Tiaty West Sub County	Baringo County
4	Marigat Sub County	Baringo County
5	The whole of Garissa	Garissa County
6	Suba Sub County	Homa Bay County
7	Mbita Sub County	Homa Bay County
8	Whole of Isiolo	Isiolo County
9	Mashuuru Sub County	Kajiado County
10	Liotoktok Sub County	Kajiado County
11	Kajiado West Sub County	Kajiado County
12	Whole Kwale	Kwale County
13	Magarini Sub County	Kilifi County
14	Ganze Sub County	Kilifi County
15	Whole of Lamu	Lamu County
16	Whole of Mandera	Mandera County
17	Whole of Marsabit	Marsabit County
18	Mumoni Sub County	Kitui County
19	Mutito North Sub County	Kitui County
20	Mutito North Sub County	Kitui County
21	Tseikuru Sub County	Kitui County
22	Narok South Sub County	Narok County
23	Narok North Sub County	Narok County
24	Whole of Samburu	Samburu County
25	Whole of Taita Taveta	Taita Taveta County
26	Whole of Tana River	Tana River County
27	Whole of Turkana	Turkana County
28	Whole of Wajir	Wajir County
29	Whole of West Pokot	West Pokot County

The TSC Hardship Allowance is a financial incentive designed to alleviate the additional burdens faced by teachers working in specific areas or conditions that can be particularly challenging.

This allowance is aimed at recognizing the dedication and commitment of teachers who choose to serve in these demanding environments.

TSC Hardship Allowance for Teachers; 2024

The highest Hardship Allowance is for teachers in Grade D5, which amounts to Ksh. 38,100. Teachers in Grades D3 and D4 are also eligible for a Hardship Allowance of Ksh. 31,500.

Grade D1 and D2 Teachers receive a substantial Hardship Allowance of Sh. 27,300, while Teachers in Grade C5 are entitled to a Hardship Allowance of Sh. 17,100.

In Grade C4, teachers will receive a Hardship Allowance of Ksh14,650. Teachers in Grade C3 are eligible for a Hardship Allowance of Sh. 12,300.

Those in Grade C2 will receive a Hardship Allowance of Sh.10,900 while Teachers in Grade C1 will get a Hardship Allowance of Ksh.8,200.

Grade B5 Teachers will receive a Hardship Allowance of 6,600.

Sno	Grade	Tsc Scale	Hardship Allowance
1	B5	5	Ksh. 6,600
2	C1	6	Ksh. 8,200
3	C2	7	Ksh. 10,900
4	C3	8	Ksh. 12,300
5	C4	9	Ksh. 14,650
6	C5	10	Ksh. 17,100
7	D1	11	Ksh. 27,300
8	D2	12	Ksh. 27,300
9	D3	13	Ksh. 31,500
10	D4	14	Ksh. 31,500
11	D5	15	Ksh. 38,100