Pay rise for police, prison officers to begin this month - Ruto

President William Ruto has announced that the salary increase for police and prison officers will be effected this month.

Speaking at State House on Tuesday, the Head of State reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fulfilling its promise of salary increase for prison officers and police personnel effective this month.

"In line with the commitment I made to our men in uniform, from this month we will be living up to our commitment to enhance the salaries of our policemen and prison officers. Starting this month they will receive their first instalment of their increment in salaries,” Ruto said.

Ruto spoke during the swearing-in ceremony for the newly appointed Prisons Service Commissioner General, Patrick Aranduh Mwiti.

He takes over from Brigadier (Rtd) John Kibaso Warioba.

Before his appointment, Aranduh served the Prison Service as Director, Planning and Development.

Previously, he served in various capacities including as duty officer, court officer, officer in charge in various prisons, Regional Commander Central, Deputy Director of Planning and Development, and Director of Logistics.

In addition, the President pledged that his Kenya Kwanza-led administration would implement its promise to said servicemen.

The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) unveiled in August 2023, was the third remuneration review cycle for the officers and civilians within the service for 2021-2025.

Salaries breakdown

The review put the monthly salary of a newly recruited constable at Sh21,645. The officers received an increase in salary of between Sh1,255 to Sh9,439.

Until then, police officers had not had a salary increase since 2020.

Senior Prison Service officers during the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed Prisons Service Commissioner General, Patrick Aranduh Mwiti at State House, Nairobi on July 24, 2024. (Photo: PCS)

A long-serving constable who has been earning Sh38,975 per month currently receives at least Sh40,354 while a new corporal officer pockets Sh27,879.

A recently promoted sergeant officer takes home Sh38, 829 up from the current Sh36, 450 whereas a long-serving officer in the same rank gets Sh55,049 up from Sh53,570.

At the beginning of the year, the government vowed that police officers and prison wardens would start receiving their 40 per cent salary increase from July.

The pay rise is in line with the recommendations made by the Taskforce chaired by former Chief Justice David Maraga last year.

The Taskforce was established on December 21, 2022, through a Gazette notice.

It was mandated to assess and recommend improvement of working and living conditions of police officers and identify and recommend legal, policy, administrative, institutional, and operational reforms in the National Police Service (NPS) and Kenya Police Service and National Youth Service for effective service delivery.

When he received the final report last November, President Ruto directed the Salaries Remuneration Commission to embark on measures to make the necessary adjustments for the same.

Prison officers alongside those in the National Youth Service (NYS) are also set to enjoy the benefit of what is seen as a move to improve service delivery in the security sector.

President Ruto stated that the salary increase as well as other proposed reforms would deal with the problems identified by the task force - underfunding, deficient leadership, structural and organisational weakness and corruption.

“The review of the terms and conditions of service for our men and women in uniform will enhance their morale and transform our security. It will increase our capacity to protect Kenyans, their belonging, their freedom and their interests in the appropriate environment for investments and enterprises to grow and thrive,” he said.

Full support

At the same time, President Ruto pledged to support Aranduh, noting that the Prison Service also looks forward to his leadership in ensuring the country's correctional facilities are managed diligently.

"I want to pledge and commit my support and that of the entire government to you and the prison service as you undertake the great transformation you want of the Prison Service," he said.

"The Prison Service is looking forward to your leadership as you lead the Prisons team in making sure our correctional services are managed appropriately and in the best interest of the country and the reform process that is going on at the Prisons will be undertaken under your watch,” Ruto added.

He highlighted that he would also be keen to see how the Prisons Service, under the new Commissioner General, would participate in the country's 15 billion trees initiative.

"There is a very big project we are undertaking of tree planting and I will be very keen to see what the Prison service will do in contributing to this very important programme," Ruto said.

"It is my expectation of you to make sure every arable land under the Prison service is put under food production for purposes of supplying food to prison service and by extension to the country.”