No pay hike for public officers as SRC freezes salary reviews

The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has frozen the implementation of the salary review for all public officers for the financial year 2024/2025.

In a statement on Thursday, the Commission said the consequences emerge from the fiscal constraints and budget cuts emanating from the withdrawal of the Finance Bill, 2024.

“The Commission has deferred the implementation of the salary review for all other public officers in the financial year 2024/2025 until further notice, contingent upon the availability of funding,” reads the statement.

SRC explained that there is no budget allocation for the proposed remuneration and benefits for public officers for the upcoming financial year, which was scheduled to take effect in July 2024.

According to the Commission, the decision was made in consultation with the National Treasury and adheres to the principles outlined in Article 230(5) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, which focuses on ensuring the fiscal sustainability of the public compensation bill.

Despite the freeze, SRC said the annual salary notch adjustments within the existing salary structures will continue as planned, provided they fit within the current budget allocations.

However, no additional funds will be available for implementing the results of the recent job evaluations in the 2024/2025 financial year.

Trade unions engagement

Meanwhile, public service institutions with Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) affected by the deferred salary review have been advised to engage with the relevant trade unions.

“Public service institutions with CBA that are impacted by the deferred implementation of salary review in the financial year 2024/2025, are advised to engage the respective trade unions accordingly,” the Commission said.

The SRC stated that it will keep monitoring the financial situation and will consider revising the salary review plan based on future funding availability as advised by the National Treasury.

Last month, President William Ruto declined to sign the Finance Bill into law following an uproar from Kenyans who took to the streets in protest.

He also directed austerity measures be taken to reduce expenditure, starting with the Executive Office of the President to the entire Executive, to enable the country to live within its means.