New task force to eliminate pay disparities across Kenya’s public service
The task force will review existing pay structures and propose measures to standardise remuneration across ministries, departments and state agencies.
The government has formed a task force to harmonise salaries across public service institutions, aiming to eliminate pay disparities and ensure fairness for all civil servants.
According to Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku, the task force will review existing pay structures and propose measures to standardise remuneration across ministries, departments and state agencies.
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Speaking on Tuesday during the Kenya Civil Servants National Delegates Conference at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) in Nairobi, Ruku said the task force brings together key institutions, including the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), the Public Service Commission (PSC) and the State Department for Public Service and Human Capital Development.
“To achieve equity and fairness in the public service, I have set up a task force. The President is working day and night to ensure the welfare of all public servants is well taken care of in terms of salaries, allowances, and working conditions,” Ruku said.
He described the initiative as both a moral and constitutional obligation, pointing out existing discrepancies where public servants with similar qualifications and responsibilities earn vastly different salaries depending on their department or agency.
“There is no reason as to why, for instance, an officer in the Ministry of Agriculture and another in a state agency such as KenGen should be paid differently if they hold similar qualifications and responsibilities. The principle of equity must be upheld,” Ruku said.
Ruku lauded Kenya’s civil service as one of the best in Africa and expressed confidence that ongoing reforms would transform it into an efficient and fully empowered workforce.
“We want to employ the civil service to its capacity and ensure it works optimally,” he said, urging public officers to maintain diligence, integrity and decorum in their duties.
The CS also confirmed that the government had remitted Sh4.1 billion to the Social Health Authority two months ago to support the civil servants’ health scheme.
“We want every civil servant to walk into any health facility and receive medical care without frustration. That’s our commitment,” he said, adding that his ministry continues to work with the Ministry of Health and the Social Health Authority to guarantee seamless healthcare access.
Ruku also highlighted plans to review all existing Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) to address implementation gaps and fast-track measures that enhance civil servants’ welfare. He stressed that improved working conditions must be matched by personal responsibility and ethical conduct.
“We must be responsible for our actions and ensure integrity in everything we do. As the government works to improve your welfare, you must also uphold ethical standards,” he said.
The conference brought together delegates from across the country to deliberate on public service reforms, workers’ welfare and the future of Kenya’s civil service. The salary harmonisation initiative is expected to become a landmark reform that strengthens motivation, promotes transparency and ensures justice in public sector remuneration.
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