Salaries and Remuneration Commission launches Ksh 2025–2030 plan, targets productivity-based pay and fiscal discipline

The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has launched its 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, calling for a shift from attendance-based pay to productivity-linked remuneration in the public sector.

Unveiled at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), the plan aims to instill fiscal discipline and ensure every shilling spent on salaries delivers measurable value to Kenyans.

Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, said the plan provides a clear roadmap to transform Kenya’s pay system into one that rewards performance while maintaining financial sustainability.

“This plan is not about cost-cutting. It’s about value maximization,” said Koskei. “We must move from compensating presence to compensating performance. Every public shilling must yield measurable results.”

Koskei noted that Kenya’s national wage bill has reduced from 55 percent of revenue in 2020 to 40 percent, with a goal to hit 35 percent by 2028, in line with the Public Finance Management Act.

He warned, however, that pay restraint should not compromise the government’s ability to attract and retain skilled professionals, urging the public sector to boost productivity and competitiveness.

Koskei also emphasized governance, integrity, and meritocracy as key to achieving the plan’s goals. “Independence must never mean isolation. We must all work together to deliver value to Kenyans,” he said.

SRC Chairperson Sammy Chepkwony said the five-year blueprint was developed through broad consultations with government entities, county administrations, and development partners to promote fairness, accountability, and transparency in public remuneration.

Supreme Court Judge William Ouko hailed the Commission for leading reforms that uphold equity and integrity, saying the Judiciary supports SRC’s constitutional role in ensuring fiscal prudence.

Public Service Principal Secretary Dr Jane Imbunya commended the SRC’s guidance in ongoing public sector reforms, reaffirming government support for its implementation.

The strategic plan marks a major step in Kenya’s wage reform journey, aligning pay with productivity and setting the tone for a more efficient and accountable public service.