Public Service CS Moses Kuria has declined to implement gazette notice on salary increment for public servants and asked the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to degazette the same.

In a statement on Thursday July 3, 2024 Moses Kuria cited austerity measures while rejecting the SRC proposal to increase salaries for public servants.

“I reiterate my observations during the Conference that it is not sustainable to have 900,000 public servants from both levels of Government consume Ksh 1.Itrillion annually, which is equivalent to 47 percent of national revenues, leaving the rest of 54 million Kenyans with 53 percent, with debt servicing and development to cater for, among other expenditure,” stated Kuria. 

In addition, Kuria advised SRC to consider the resolutions of the Third National Wage Bill Conference held on 15-17 April 2024 to reduce the Wage bill to 35 percent of revenue as provided in the Public Finance Management Act 2012  and the prevailing austerity measures announced by President William Ruto occasioned by the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024.

“I believed then, just as now, that this is more of a moral and ethical issue than an economic issue,” he added.

The CS explained that the current trajectory indicates a continual rise in expenditure on salaries, allowances, and benefits for public servants, placing immense strain on national finances.

According to Kuria, reducing the public wage bill requires a multifaceted approach, one that balances fiscal prudence with a commitment to fair compensation for public servants.

Developing story, more to follow……..