SRC Under Pressure Over Suspension of Reviewed County Workers' Pay

The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) is facing pressure from the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) over its decision to suspend the implementation of reviewed remuneration and benefits structures for State and public officers in County Governments.

SRC suspended with immediate effect the implementation of the remuneration and benefits structures for county officers under the 2025/26–2028/29 review cycle.

The decision followed consultations between SRC and the Council of Governors, with the commission citing concerns over fiscal sustainability and the affordability of the public wage bill.

SRC noted that most counties currently have wage bills exceeding 35 per cent of their ordinary revenue, making it financially challenging for counties to implement the reviewed remuneration and benefits structures.

In a rejoinder on Tuesday, September 29, KMP8DU Secretary General Davji Atellah criticised the decision, saying the suspension would have implications for county workers whose remuneration had been reviewed.

"The decision by the SRC to suspend, with immediate effect, the reviewed remuneration and benefits structures for officers in County Governments is deeply concerning," he wrote.

Atellah questioned the application of fiscal responsibility measures to county workers, arguing that public servants working under devolved governments should not be treated differently.

"We cannot have one National Treasury and one public wage bill, yet apply fiscal responsibility selectively when it comes to devolved workers," he added.

Atellah said county health workers and other employees serving under county governments require fair and predictable remuneration to effectively deliver public services.

"County health workers and other county employees are public servants who deserve fair, predictable and equitable remuneration. Devolution cannot mean devolving responsibilities while withholding the resources and conditions necessary for workers to deliver essential services," he further said.

Atellah called for transparency and dialogue among the institutions responsible for public finance, remuneration and devolution if there are concerns over the affordability of the reviewed pay structures.

"If there are genuine concerns about affordability and fiscal sustainability, then let those concerns be addressed transparently and comprehensively through dialogue involving SRC, the Council of Governors, the National Treasury, CRA and the affected workers," he noted.

Atellah said county workers should not be left to bear the effects of wider fiscal pressures, arguing that management of the public wage bill is a national responsibility.

"We will not sit back as county workers are asked to carry the burden of fiscal pressures alone. The wage bill is a national responsibility. The dignity of workers is non-negotiable," he stated.

Atellah further called on SRC to reverse the suspension and engage workers and their representatives before taking further action.

"We call for the immediate reversal of this suspension and meaningful engagement with workers and their representatives before further action is taken," he concluded.

This comes weeks after nurses called off their nationwide strike following discussions with the Council of Governors.

Speaking on Wednesday, September 9, the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) Secretary-General Seth Panyako announced that the strike had been officially called off.

The Union had reached agreements with the Council on several key issues raised by the nurses, including the implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) within 45 days.

"We have finally called off the 43-day strike following a breakthrough in negotiations with the Council of Governors.

"We therefore call upon all our members to resume duty within the next 25 hours as we give room for the implementation of the agreements reached," Panyako stated.

The CoG Chairperson, Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, disclosed that following the fruitful discussions, the risk allowance for nurses will be increased from Ksh3,850 to Ksh8,000. Nurses will also receive a Ksh5,000 uniform allowance.

"Through the efforts of our health committee, I can report that we finally have a deal, provided they do not change their mind until the deal is signed. We offered them an increase in their risk allowance to Ksh8,000, and we also offered them an increase of Ksh5,000 in uniform allowance," he announced.