She mentioned that in 2013, with the establishment of the Public Service Commission following the enactment of the new constitution, there arose apprehension regarding the nation’s wage bill due to the proliferation of new positions.
Additionally, she noted that a study conducted in 2014 concluded that the country’s public sector wage bill was unsustainable and required reduction. “Unless we have a policy that asks what are the issues in public wage bill, what is the situation analysis and what is the situation in other countries which are comparable with ours, we can’t address the issue,” she said.
Lyn Mengich, Chairperson of the SRC, emphasized that the public wage bill has persistently exceeded the 35% to-revenue ratio, posing ongoing fiscal challenges. She highlighted that this situation constrains resources earmarked for development projects and government priorities.
The SRC is convening its third National Wage Bill conference from April 15th to 17th at the Bomas of Kenya. The event will gather top officials from national and county governments, various associations, and media representatives, among others.
