In a bold move to tackle long-standing salary disparities within Kenya’s public sector, the government has unveiled a new task force to harmonize pay across all government institutions.
The announcement was made by Public Service, Human Capital Development, and Performance Management Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku on October 14, 2025, marking the beginning of what could be one of the most significant public service reforms in recent years.
The task force, comprising experts from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), the Public Service Commission (PSC), and the State Department for Public Service, has already begun reviewing pay structures in various ministries, parastatals, and county administrations. According to CS Ruku, the goal is to ensure fairness and equity in how government employees are compensated.
“It is unfair that two people with similar qualifications and responsibilities earn differently simply because they serve in different departments,” Ruku said. “The Constitution demands equity, and this time we are walking the talk.”
The CS emphasized that the initiative will not only promote justice but also boost morale and productivity among civil servants who have long complained about uneven pay scales. He added that the harmonization drive forms part of a larger government agenda to enhance efficiency and service delivery in the public sector.
Former SRC Chairperson Lyn Mengich supported the move, revealing that the SRC had identified more than 240 different allowances across institutions, some reaching over 200 percent of basic salary. She said such irregularities have fueled inequality and inflated the wage bill, stressing that the reform would align Kenya’s pay system with best practices from countries like Ghana and South Africa.
President William Ruto, speaking earlier at the National Wage Bill Conference, backed the reforms, affirming his administration’s plan to cut the wage bill from 46 percent to 35 percent of total revenue within three years. The task force is expected to submit its first report soon, paving the way for a new era of fairness in Kenya’s public service.
1 Comment
The harmony can only be true for all if the Curriculum support officers (CSO’s) should earn at least more the HOI’s for secondary and others. Should a manager earn less than the managed? Authority emanates from the power to control and use the resources.