Nairobi: The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has unveiled the 2025-2030 Strategic Plan with a call for a shift towards productivity-based remuneration and stronger fiscal discipline in the public service.
According to Kenya News Agency, the launch event was held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on Wednesday, bringing together senior government officials, heads of constitutional commissions, members of the judiciary, and representatives from the private sector. The initiative aims to promote fairness, accountability, and performance in managing public resources.
Chief of Staff and the Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, stated that the new five-year plan provides a roadmap for transforming Kenya's remuneration framework into one that rewards excellence while safeguarding fiscal sustainability. Koskei emphasized that every shilling spent on salaries must translate into measurable value for citizens, shifting from compensating presence to compensating performance, with each reward tied to measurable output.
Koskei explained that the plan is anchored on fiscal sustainability, equity, harmonization of pay structures, and enhanced stakeholder engagement. He noted that Kenya has reduced the national wage bill from 55 percent of revenue in 2020 to 40 percent, aiming to reach the statutory 35 percent limit by 2028 under the Public Finance Management Act. Despite the need for wage restraint, Koskei warned against eroding the capacity to attract and retain skilled professionals in the public service.
The public service boss also stressed the importance of growing the country's productivity, highlighting Kenya's current ranks of 27th in Africa and 155th globally in productivity per public employee. He reiterated that the success of the strategic plan will rely on good governance and collaboration among all state organs and independent commissions.
Koskei urged public officers to uphold professionalism, ethics, and integrity, stating that independence must translate into service delivery. He condemned corruption, politicization, and tribalism in appointments, advocating for meritocracy and competence. He encouraged the Salaries Commission to focus on implementation, stressing that plans must move from paper to tangible results and reminding participants of the need for visible results for Kenyans.
Supreme Court Judge, Justice William Ouko, congratulated the SRC for its leadership in promoting fairness and transparency in Kenya's remuneration system, acknowledging the Commission's constitutional mandate under Article 230 as a key pillar in safeguarding fiscal prudence, equity, and integrity in the public service.
Principal Secretary for the State Department for Public Service, Dr. Jane Imbunya, praised the SRC for its efforts to stabilize the wage management framework and reaffirmed the government's partnership with the Commission. SRC Chairperson Sammy Chepkwony highlighted that the strategic plan was developed through extensive consultation with government entities, county governments, and development partners to ensure inclusivity and alignment with national priorities.
The launch marked a significant milestone in Kenya's public sector reform agenda, with the SRC reaffirming its commitment to building a fair, accountable, and performance-oriented pay system that supports national productivity and economic growth.