Gov't halts all Public Service recruitment to curb rising wage Bill

This was revealed in a directive issued on Wednesday by Moses K. Kuria, Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Performance, and Delivery Management. 

He stated that the directive is consistent with the austerity measures discussed during Prof. Njuguna Ndung'u's Budget presentation on June 13. 

Kuria emphasized the urgency of the directive in a letter to Amb. Anthony Muchiri, Chairperson of the Public Service Commission, writing, "This measure is critical in controlling runaway recurrent expenditures and aligning with austerity measures across government."

According to CS Kuria, Kenya's expenditure on public servant salaries, allowances, and benefits has exceeded sustainable levels, putting a strain on the country's finances. 

“Our current expenditure on salaries, allowances, and benefits for public servants exceeds sustainable levels, placing undue strain on our national finances and hindering our ability to allocate resources towards essential national priorities,”Kuria noted,. 

He stated that during the employment suspension, the government will conduct a comprehensive audit and clean-up of public payrolls. 

“In view of expected budget cuts in the ongoing budget rationalization, therefore, I urge you to halt any new recruitment and any that is ongoing and has not been concluded.” the letter reads. 

A tripartite committee will be formed to oversee and evaluate recruitment initiatives, with representatives from the Ministry of Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management, the Ministry of National Treasury and Economic Planning, and the Public Service Commission. 

According to CS Kuria, future hiring in the public sector will be based solely on genuine operational requirements. 

“All new and ongoing recruitment, including interviews for shortlisted candidates in public service, are to be halted immediately,” Kuria stated. “Any future hiring in the public sector must be justified by genuine operational needs.”

This measure, he contended, seeks to stabilise Kenya's economic situation and ensure that public-sector employment reflects the country's fiscal realities.