Public wage bill soars: How President Ruto’s new PSs add to taxpayer costs

The expansion of government has once again sparked debate after President William Ruto nominated seven new Principal Secretaries (PSs) in a move that critics argue will further strain Kenya’s struggling economy.

With the latest additions, the number of state departments has increased from 50 to 57, raising concerns over the financial implications of sustaining an ever-growing government workforce.

Each PS appointment comes with a hefty price tag, and taxpayers will have to foot the bill.

According to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), a PS earns a monthly salary of Sh792,519, translating to an annual cost of over Sh9.5 million per PS.

This figure does not include additional allowances, benefits and retirement packages, all of which drive up the overall cost.

The newly created state departments include the State Department for Public Investments and Assets Management, which will be under the National Treasury. Cyrell Wagunda Odede has been nominated to lead it.

Other new offices include the State Department for National Government Coordination under the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, to be headed by Ahmed Abdisalan Ibrahim; the State Department for Justice, Human Rights, and Constitutional Affairs under the Office of the Attorney General, with Judith Pareno as the nominee; and the State Department for Science, Research, and Innovation within the Ministry of Education, to be led by Abdulrazak Shaukut.

The Ministry of Roads and Transport will now have a State Department for Aviation and Aerospace Development, where Teresiah Mbaika is the nominee.

The Public Service Ministry will oversee the newly established State Department for Special Programmes, with Ismael Madey nominated to head it.

The last of the seven is the State Department for Children Welfare Services under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, with Carren Ageng’o Achieng set to take charge.

With these additions, the government’s wage bill will rise further.

For the 57 PSs, taxpayers will now pay over Sh542 million annually in salaries alone. Over a five-year term, this figure will balloon to Sh2.71 billion.

Beyond their salaries, PSs enjoy various perks that come at a great cost to taxpayers.

For instance, those in key ministries such as the Interior, National Treasury, and Foreign Affairs receive an additional responsibility allowance of Sh100,000 per month, adding another Sh1.2 million per year for each of them.

PSs are also entitled to official cars of up to 3,000cc, fully maintained by the government. Their medical cover is among the most generous in the public sector, providing up to Sh10 million for inpatient care, Sh300,000 for outpatient services, and additional allowances for maternity, dental, and optical care.

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Each PS is also entitled to a car loan of up to Sh8 million and a mortgage of up to Sh35 million at an interest rate of only 3 per cent, terms that ordinary Kenyans can only dream of.

Their retirement benefits also come at a high cost, with gratuity payments amounting to 31 per cent of their annual salary.

A PS who serves a full term could receive a lump sum running into millions.

The timing of the new appointments has raised eyebrows, especially as the government has been pushing for increased taxation and cutting subsidies on essential goods.

With Kenya’s public wage bill already exceeding Sh1.1 trillion annually, the addition of more PSs has only deepened concerns over government spending.