Parliament Approves Law Granting SRC Powers to Standardise Civil Servants Payslips
The reforms, introduced under the SRC Regulations of 2025, are designed to address long-standing disparities in pay across government institutions by establishing uniform job grading systems, standardised salary scales, and clear guidelines on allowances.
Lawmakers who backed the motion argued that the changes will bring consistency and fairness to a system that has for years been characterised by unequal compensation, even among employees performing similar roles in different agencies.
Nyando MP Jared Okello highlighted the inconsistencies that have defined the current structure, noting that variations in allowances have created significant pay gaps within the public service.
“There has been a haphazard way of apportionment of salaries. Public officers have had to undergo a lot of disparities. The Regulations create a level of uniformity and certainty,” Okello told the House.
At the core of the new regulations is a transition from fragmented payment frameworks to a unified system based on clearly defined job grades. Each position within the public service will now be evaluated based on qualifications, responsibilities, and experience, with corresponding placement within a structured pay band.
Supporters of the reforms say this approach will eliminate arbitrary salary differences and ensure that compensation reflects the actual demands of a role rather than institutional variations.
Ainabkoi MP Samwel Chepkonga, who moved the motion, told legislators that the revised regulations had addressed earlier legal and constitutional concerns that led to the annulment of a previous version.
“These regulations now allow the SRC to discharge its mandate in a fair, transparent and accountable manner,” Chepkonga said, adding that the framework had been strengthened to withstand legal scrutiny.
In addition to salary standardisation, the regulations introduce a rationalisation of allowances—a component that has historically contributed to inflated and uneven earnings across the public sector.
Under the new system, allowances will be clearly defined and capped, reducing the flexibility that previously allowed some institutions to significantly boost employees’ total earnings through discretionary benefits.
This means that while some civil servants may experience a reduction in allowances, their basic salaries could be adjusted upwards to maintain overall compensation balance. For instance, an employee previously earning Ksh100,000 with disproportionately high allowances may see a restructuring that increases basic pay while moderating additional benefits.
Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris welcomed the move, describing it as a necessary step in streamlining the public wage bill and enhancing accountability.
“A structured approach to remuneration is essential if we are to manage the public wage bill effectively and ensure consistency across all government entities,” Passaris noted.
Analysts say the new framework could have far-reaching implications for public finance management, particularly in efforts to contain the rising wage bill, which has been a persistent concern for the government.
As the regulations take effect, attention will now shift to implementation, with stakeholders keen to see whether the reforms will deliver on their promise of fairness, transparency, and sustainability in the management of public sector wages.
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Parliament Approves Law Granting SRC Powers to Standardise Civil Servants Payslips
