Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has raised concerns over the compensation of Kenya’s public servants, stating that many are underpaid compared to their counterparts in the private sector. In an interview with NTV on Wednesday, Ruku cited limited revenue and a bloated wage bill as major obstacles to increasing salaries within the public sector.
“Most public servants are not paid enough compared to their peers in the private sector,” Ruku said, highlighting the financial constraints facing the government. Kenya currently has about one million public servants serving a population of over 55 million, and Ruku believes this number is insufficient to meet the nation’s development and service delivery needs. He suggested that the workforce may need to expand to around three million.
However, he acknowledged that the government’s current financial capacity does not allow for such an expansion or improved remuneration. “The challenge is with the 1 million the wage bill is already high, so we need to think about how to raise our revenues,” he noted.
Recent data from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) reinforces the government’s fiscal limitations. According to the SRC’s wage bill bulletin for the second quarter of the 2024/25 financial year, only six counties Nakuru, Kwale, Busia, Tana River, Narok, and Kilifi meet the legal wage-bill-to-revenue ratio of not more than 35 percent, as outlined in the Public Finance Management Act of 2012.
Nationally, the Teacher Service Commission (TSC) consumes the largest share of the wage bill at 33.8 percent in 2023/24, followed by the national government at 27.12 percent. Meanwhile, consolidated fund services (CFS) account for the least at 0.31 percent, with state corporations following at 4.7 percent.
Ruku warned that without substantial reforms aimed at boosting state revenue, both workforce expansion and fair compensation for public officials will remain elusive. He emphasized the importance of a well-functioning public service for fostering a conducive environment for investment and national growth.
