TSC releases list of new 44 hardship areas 2025
The Teachers Service Commission, TSC, has released the list of the 44 reviewed hardship areas.
The hardship areas have been revised and the hardship allowances has also been revised with hardship areas now classified as EXTREME or MODERATE.
Some areas have completely been removed and will no longer be getting hardship allowances as government eyes to save close to sh 6.5 billion.
The reclassification, set to take effect in July, will see hardship areas split into two tiers Extreme and Moderate with several previously recognised zones excluded entirely.
Teachers in areas, such as Tinderet, Soin, Bunyala, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Tharaka Nithi now face the prospect of losing the hardship allowances that have long cushioned them from the challenges of working in remote and under-resourced environments.
Teachers in areas now marked as MODERATE will have their hardship allowances slashed as these areas have made considerable amount of improvement.
Areas marked as EXTREME HARDHIP AREAS by Salaries and Renumeration Commission (SRC) include Mandera County, Garissa County, Turkana County, Wajir County, Tana River County, Marasabit County, some parts of Lamu County, West Pokot County, some parts of Baringo County and Isiolo County.
Areas marked as MODERATE HARDSHIP AREAS include some parts of Kwale County, Narok West, Narok South and Loita, Samburu, some parts of Suba South and Suba North, some parts of Kitui County, some parts of Makueni County, some parts of Kajiado County, some parts of Kilifi County, Nyando and Nyakach in Kisumu County, some parts of Laikipia County and some parts of Nyandarua County.
Below is the latest list of the 44 areas that were previously coded to receive hardship allowance by TSC. Some have since developed significantly and the allowances have been removed in some areas and slashed in others.
The changes will take effect on 1st July 2025 and will effect majority of TSC teachers working in hardship areas.
1) Suba – Mfangano and Rusinga Island
2) Kuria – Kegonga
3) Busia – Budalangi
4) Kajiado – Whole Region
5) Nakuru – Mbogoini and Makongeni (Lower Solai)
6) Laikipia – Whole Region
7) Kitui – Whole Region
8) Kilifi – Ganze
9) Keiyo – Whole Region
10) Marakwet – Whole Region
11) Kwale – Kinango and Samburu
12) Trans Mara – Whole Region
13) Mwingi – Whole Region
14) Tharaka – Whole Region
15) Mbeere – Whole Region
16) Malindi – Magarini, Marafa and Kakoneni
17) Machakos – Yalla and Masinga
18) Nyeri – Kieni
19) Kiambu – Ndeiya and Karai
20) Maragwa – Mukuyu
21) Nyandarua – Nyahururu High School
22) Nyandarua – Nyandarua Boarding Primary
23) Kericho – Whole Region
24) Kisumu – Muhoroni Valley and Sondu
25) Thika – Kakuzi
26) Koibatek – Kimgorom
27) Narok – Eastern Mau, Osupuko, Mara, Loita and Southern Olulunga
28) Makueni – Whole Region
29) Isiolo – Whole Region
30) Moyale – Whole Region
31) Marsabit – Whole Region
32) Garissa – Whole Region
33) Mandera – Whole Region
34) Wajir – Whole Region
35) Lamu – Whole Region
36) Tana River – Whole Region
37) Taita Taveta – Whole Region
38) Baringo – Whole Region
39) Samburu – Whole Region
40) Turkana – Whole Region
41) West Pokot – Whole Region
42) Mara – Whole Region
43) Nandi – Tinderet
44) Meru North (Nyambene) – Mutuai, Ndoleli and Igembe East, Buuri, Giika, Linjoka, Ankamia, Amung’enti, Thangatha, Mumui, Kiujuline and Akithi zones.