State employees are in for a salary boost of 7-10%, with this increase being applied from July 1, following a freeze imposed last year. The decision, as revealed by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), is linked to the country’s rebounding growth post-Covid-19.
Lyn Mengich, Chairperson of the SRC, explained during a meeting in Nairobi that this salary review takes into account the economic recovery seen after the pandemic. The National Treasury has allocated Ksh27.1 billion for the fiscal year 2023/24 to facilitate these salary adjustments.
Spread over two years, the 7-10% raise includes a yearly average notch increase of around three percent. This effort, part of the third remuneration and benefits review, aims to progressively adjust remuneration structures that are below the 50th percentile market level. Importantly, the freeze on salaries beyond the 50th percentile will continue.
For situations where salaries remain frozen, planned notch increases will proceed as budgeted, up to the maximum salary point. This balanced approach helps manage the wage bill.
The largest share of this salary boost will go to teachers, with the Teachers Service Commission receiving 44.2% of the total allocation. Additionally, the armed forces will get 20.9%, and counties will see 18.8%. Civil services and state officers will experience increases of 8.5% and 4.3%, respectively.
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This increase could further strain the wage bill, which has already crossed the Ksh1 trillion threshold. The SRC forecasts the wage bill to grow from Ksh1.10 trillion to Ksh1.17 trillion.
Notably, President William Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua have opted not to receive the salary increment for the 2023/24 period. According to an SRC draft gazettement, their salaries will remain unchanged.
As per the gazettement, President Ruto’s salary will stay at Ksh1.44 million, and Deputy President Gachagua’s at Ksh1.22 million.
Meanwhile, other state and public officers are set for salary increases from July 1, 2023, to July 1, 2024. Cabinet Secretaries will experience a rise of about 3.5%, taking their salary to Ksh957,000 from Ksh924,000. This is slightly less than the SRC’s initial proposal of Ksh990,000.
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President Ruto underlined the need to bridge wage gaps between low- and high-earning public servants, emphasizing the importance of fair remuneration adjustments.
