Salaries and Remuneration Commission suspends county pay increases

The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has suspended the immediate implementation of reviewed remuneration and benefits structures for various state and public officers within Kenya's county governments. The suspension affects categories including county executives, members of County Public Service Boards, County Secretaries, and County Attorneys.

Following consultations with the Council of Governors, the SRC cited concerns regarding fiscal sustainability and the affordability of public wage bills. The commission noted that most counties currently maintain wage bills exceeding 35 per cent of their ordinary revenue. The suspension is intended to allow for further engagement between the SRC, the Council of Governors, the Commission on Revenue Allocation, and the National Treasury.

The decision has drawn sharp criticism from the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU). KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah described the move as deeply concerning, arguing that fiscal responsibility measures should not be applied selectively to devolved workers when there is a single National Treasury and public wage bill.