Kenya Launches Task Force to Tackle Persistent Pay Gaps in Public Sector
Nairobi, October 15, 2025 - In a bold move to foster equity and fairness within the nation's civil service, the Kenyan government has unveiled a dedicated task force aimed at overhauling salary structures across all public institutions. This initiative seeks to erase longstanding disparities where workers with comparable skills and duties receive unequal compensation, depending on their employing ministry or agency. The announcement underscores a renewed commitment to constitutional principles of justice, positioning the reform as a cornerstone of broader public service transformation.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku, speaking at the ongoing Kenya Civil Servants National Delegates Conference in Nairobi, detailed the task force's formation as a direct response to these inequities. Held at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development, the conference has drawn representatives from every corner of the country to deliberate on critical issues like workforce reforms, employee well-being, and the evolving role of civil servants in national development. Ruku highlighted the absurdity of scenarios where, for example, an officer in the Ministry of Agriculture earns markedly less or more than a counterpart in a parastatal like KenGen, despite holding identical qualifications and handling similar responsibilities. He framed this as not just a practical inefficiency but a profound moral and legal imperative, rooted in Kenya's constitution.
The task force represents a collaborative effort among pivotal bodies in the public sector landscape. It unites the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, the Public Service Commission, and the State Department for Public Service and Human Capital Development. Their core mandate revolves around a thorough audit of current remuneration frameworks, followed by concrete recommendations to standardize pay scales uniformly across ministries, departments, and state corporations. This includes allowances and other benefits, ensuring that compensation reflects merit and role rather than institutional silos. While no firm deadline has been set, the group is expected to deliver actionable proposals that could reshape fiscal allocations and budgeting for the foreseeable future.
Ruku painted an optimistic vision for the outcomes, asserting that the President remains deeply invested in elevating civil servants' welfare through enhanced salaries, improved working environments, and robust support systems. He stressed the need to unlock the full potential of the civil service, describing it as one of Africa's most capable workforces. "We want to employ the civil service to its capacity and ensure it works optimally," Ruku declared, emphasizing that true empowerment comes from equitable treatment. This harmonization effort is poised to boost morale, instill greater transparency in pay decisions, and cultivate a sense of justice that permeates the public sector. In the long term, it could reduce turnover, curb corruption tied to uneven incentives, and drive higher productivity, ultimately benefiting service delivery to ordinary Kenyans.
Complementing this salary overhaul, the government has already taken tangible steps on other fronts. Just two months prior, it disbursed Sh4.1 billion to the Social Health Authority in partnership with the Ministry of Health. This infusion guarantees uninterrupted access to medical care for civil servants at any facility nationwide, eliminating previous frustrations over reimbursements or denials. Ruku reaffirmed this pledge: "We want every civil servant to walk into any health facility and receive medical care without frustration. That is our commitment." Further, a comprehensive review of all existing Collective Bargaining Agreements is in the pipeline, targeting implementation shortfalls to accelerate welfare gains and align contracts with contemporary needs.
Yet, the Cabinet Secretary tempered these advancements with a call for accountability. He urged public officers to embody diligence, integrity, and professionalism in their daily duties, warning that enhanced benefits must be reciprocated with unwavering ethical standards. "We must be responsible for our actions and ensure integrity in everything we do," he noted. "As the government works to improve your welfare, you must also uphold ethical standards." This balanced approach reflects a holistic reform agenda, where material improvements go hand in hand with behavioral expectations.
The conference itself serves as a vibrant forum for these discussions, fostering dialogue on how to propel Kenya's public service into a more agile and responsive entity. Delegates have engaged in sessions exploring everything from digital integration to gender inclusivity in the workplace. Ruku's address, delivered amid applause from the assembly, has injected fresh momentum into these conversations, signaling that the era of patchwork pay policies is drawing to a close.
As Kenya navigates economic pressures and ambitious development goals, this task force emerges as a beacon of progressive governance. By addressing the human element at the heart of public administration, the initiative promises not only to rectify historical imbalances but also to forge a more unified and motivated civil service. Stakeholders across the board anticipate swift progress, with early consultations already underway to map out the review process. For countless public workers who have long advocated for parity, this represents a pivotal step toward a fairer tomorrow.