Thousands of Kenyan civil servants are set to benefit from increased salaries and improved allowances following the approval of a new remuneration structure by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
The revised pay structure, which takes effect from July 1, 2026, is part of the government’s Fourth Remuneration and Benefits Review Cycle (2025–2029). The review introduces higher basic salaries and revised allowances for public servants across different job grades.
Among the biggest beneficiaries are officers in Grade E4, who will now earn between KSh 312,085 and KSh 576,120 when posted in Nairobi. The revised package also includes improved house allowances and other benefits aimed at enhancing the overall earnings of government employees.
According to the SRC, the new salary framework is designed to ensure public sector pay remains fair, competitive, and aligned with the cost of living. The commission also reviewed the classification of house allowances, with Nairobi-based officers continuing to receive the highest rates due to the city’s higher cost of living.
In addition to increasing basic salaries, the SRC has streamlined several allowances under a Salary Market Adjustment (SMA). The move is intended to simplify the remuneration system while ensuring employees are adequately compensated based on their responsibilities and work locations.
The salary review is expected to benefit employees working in national government ministries, departments, state corporations, and other public institutions. For unionisable employees, implementation of the revised salaries will be guided by the relevant Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) and applicable labour laws.
Although the new salary structure officially takes effect from July 1, 2026, Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku recently announced that payment of the revised salaries will begin on August 1, 2026. The government explained that the delay is necessary to allow sufficient time for payroll adjustments and administrative preparations before the new rates are reflected in employees’ salaries.
The government maintains that the salary increment will improve the welfare of public servants by increasing their purchasing power and helping attract and retain skilled professionals in the public service. The revised package is also expected to motivate employees and enhance service delivery across government institutions.
The implementation of the new pay structure comes as the government continues rolling out the Human Resource Information System (HRIS), a digital platform aimed at improving payroll management, eliminating ghost workers, and enhancing transparency in public service remuneration.
Civil servants across the country are now awaiting the publication of detailed salary scales and updated payslips reflecting the new structure. Once fully implemented, the revised remuneration package is expected to mark one of the most significant salary reviews for Kenya’s public service in recent years, offering improved earnings and better benefits for thousands of government employees.
