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.
Held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on Wednesday, the launch brought together senior government officials, heads of constitutional commissions, members of the judiciary and representatives from the private sector in a renewed effort to promote fairness, accountability and performance in the management of public resources.
Chief of Staff and the Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei said 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 noted that every shilling spent on salaries must translate into measurable value for citizens.
“This plan is not about cost-cutting. It is about value maximisation,” he said. “We must move from compensating presence to compensating performance. Every reward in the public sector must be tied to measurable output.”
Koskei explained that the plan is anchored on fiscal sustainability, equity, harmonization of pay structures and enhanced stakeholder engagement.
The Head of Public Service added that Kenya has made progress in reducing the national wage bill from 55 percent of revenue in 2020 to 40 percent, with the goal of reaching the statutory 35 percent limit by 2028 under the Public Finance Management Act.
Koskei, however, cautioned that wage restraint should not erode the capacity to attract and retain skilled professionals in the public service.
He emphasised the need to grow the country’s productivity, noting that Kenya currently ranks 27th in Africa and 155th globally in productivity per public employee.
The public service boss reiterated that the success of the strategic plan will depend on good governance and collaboration among all state organs and independent commissions.
“Even the best strategy fails without good governance,” he said. “Independence should never mean isolation. Commissions must perform their constitutional duties and deliver value to the people of Kenya,” he added.
Koskei urged public officers to uphold professionalism, ethics and integrity, saying independence must translate into service delivery.
“You exist to protect and ensure that taxpayers’ resources are used efficiently. Independence must not become an excuse for inaction,” he said.
Koskei decried corruption, politicization and tribalism in appointments, urging Kenyans to embrace meritocracy and competence.
He said that Kenya has the talent and resources to rival emerging economies like Singapore and Malaysia only if we confront corruption and inefficiency head on, adding that fairness and expertise should guide all appointments and promotions.
Koskei urged the Salaries Commission to focus on implementation, saying plans must move from paper to tangible results. Quoting management expert, Bill Rogers, he reminded participants that even if they are on the right track, they will get run over if they remain in the same place.
He called on the SRC to ensure that its new plan delivers visible results for Kenyans, encouraging the Commission to enhance public participation and awareness so that citizens understand the purpose and impact of the reforms.
“This strategic plan must not sit on shelves. It must be implemented so that it delivers real benefits to the people of Kenya,” he said.
Supreme Court Judge, Justice William Ouko congratulated the SRC for its leadership in promoting fairness and transparency in Kenya’s remuneration system.
He said that the Judiciary recognises the Commission’s constitutional mandate under Article 230 as a key pillar in safeguarding fiscal prudence, equity and integrity in the public service.
Justice Ouko noted that the courts have repeatedly affirmed that SRC’s role is constitutionally grounded and binding where state officers are concerned.
He described the new plan as both a constitutional and practical blueprint for strengthening accountability and linking pay to performance.
Principal Secretary State Department for Public Service, Dr Jane Imbunya, lauded the SRC for its efforts to stabilise the wage management framework and reaffirmed the government’s partnership with the Commission.
“SRC authorises and my department implements. We are tied at the hip,” she said, commending the Commission for guiding recent reforms in the uniformed services and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
SRC Chairperson Sammy Chepkwony said 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.
He said the plan demonstrates the Commission’s determination to create a fair, transparent and performance-driven public remuneration system.
“Remuneration is a sensitive subject that demands transparency,” said Chepkwony. “Our commitment is to enhance trust through open communication, data sharing and consistent engagement with all stakeholders.”
The launch marked a 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.
By Mary Ndanu and Samuel Kivuva
