Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has called for the suspension of new and ongoing recruitment in government, in a bid to tame the ballooning wage bill.
In a press statement on July 4, 2024, CS Kuria, gave the directive following a directive from his Treasury counterpart Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u.
In a letter addressed to Anthony Muchiri, Chairperson of the Public Service Commission, Kuria emphasized the critical need to halt all recruitment activities.
This include the ongoing interviews for shortlisted candidates, until a thorough audit and cleaning of public payrolls can be conducted.
“This measure is critical in controlling runaway recurrent expenditures and aligning with austerity measures across government,” Kuria stated in the letter.
Moses Kuria worried about Wage Bill crisis
The move came in response to the Resolutions of the Third National Wage Bill Conference, held in April 2024, which aimed to reduce the public wage bill to 35 percent of revenue as mandated by the Public Finance Management Act of 2012.
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Kenya’s current expenditure on salaries, allowances, and benefits for public servants has exceeded sustainable levels, strained national finances and limited resources for essential national priorities.
In light of this, Kuria urged the Public Service Commission to comply with the directive and suspend any new recruitment initiatives.
Additionally, the government plans to establish a tripartite committee comprising representatives from the Ministry of Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management, the Ministry of National Treasury and Economic Planning, and the Public Service Commission.
This committee will evaluate ongoing recruitment initiatives to ensure compliance with the directive to reduce the public wage bill.
Future hiring in the public sector will be justified by genuine operational needs.
Kuria expressed confidence in the swift action of the Public Service Commission in adhering to this directive.
Proposed Budget Cuts
Speaking on May 28, Treasury PS Dr Chris Kiptoo asked the budget committee chaired by Kiharu legislator Ndindi Nyoro to reduce the funds meant for the three government officials even though the Treasury seeks to seek an extra Ksh17 billion for the current year.
“Mr Chairman, during the finalization of the FY 2024/25 Budget Estimates, MDAs (Ministries, Departments and Agencies) budgets were reduced in line with the revised Fiscal Framework. Further to the rationalization and subsequent submission of the FY 2024/25 Budget Estimates, we intend to review and rationalize the following votes,” said Dr Kiptoo.
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However, allocation to the office of the PCS was also reduced by Ksh100 million from the current Ksh1.2 billion to the proposed Ksh1.1 billion.
The National Treasury additionally proposed to cut allocations to Executive Office of the President, Office of the Deputy President, the Prime Cabinet Secretary (PCS) and State House.
Kiptoo mentioned that the funds reduced from the four offices will be redirected to initiatives such as coffee reforms, tree planting programs, boosting the budget for foreign missions, and supporting state visits.
Recent Public Service Jobs
Back on May 14th 2024, The Public Service Commission (PSC) had advertised vacant positions in eight ministries and state departments.
The PSC published the career opportunities with the minimum qualifications and the process of how interested candidates can apply.
The vacancies were open in the following ministries and state departments: Broadcasting and Telecommunication, Medical Services, Internal Security and National Administration, Defence, Co-operatives, Environment and Climate Change, Labour and Skill Development and Asals and Regional Development.
PSC announced one vacancy for the position of communications secretary or the national communications secretariat.
This being the latest job advert from the Public Service sector that could have employed 532 individuals across the 8 ministries.
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