A looming crisis hangs over the civil service following the Union of Kenya Civil Servants' announcement of plans for an impending industrial strike, set to commence in 58 days.
The strike is expected to paralyse key services, particularly at county governments, after revelations that the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has yet to implement crucial agreements on remuneration and benefits, nearly four months after they were reached.
In a circular seen by Kenyans.co.ke and addressed to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and the Chief Executive Officer of the Public Service Commission (PSC), the civil servants union lamented the SRC's delay in implementing the agreed terms.
''It has been brought to our attention that remuneration and benefits for county government employees at the executive have not been implemented as directed by the circular in reference, this is contrary to principles of fair remunerations in accordance with the provisions of the constitution article 41(2),'' the union Secretary General Tom Odege stated.
Additionally, county workers criticised what they termed as discriminatory practices, pointing out that while the concerns of their counterparts in the national government had been addressed, their grievances were ignored.
''Further, it amounts to discrimination against the county government employees since the same has been implemented for the same carder(s) working under the National Government,''
Odege warned that should the SRC and PSC fail to implement the agreements within 60 days from January 21, then the workers will have no alternative but to proceed on an industrial strike.
''In this regard we demand the same be implemented within 60 days from the date of receipt of this letter failure to which the contemplated action including industrial action shall be initiated,'' Odege added.
On September 3 last year, the union suspended its planned strike after the government agreed to implement the second phase of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi announced that the civil servants' pay would be backdated to July 1, the same year.
The civil servants were poised to receive a salary increase of between Ksh1,000 and Ksh30,000 following the government’s decision to honour the CBA.
In a letter issued by Public Service Principal Secretary Amos Gathecha, the government further announced that workers were to receive an increase in their house allowances.
According to the letter, under the new wage structure, the lowest cadre of civil servants would get a salary increase of Ksh1,000, which would see their payslips rise from Ksh16,950 to Ksh18,250. Additionally, those earning a salary of Ksh19,220 were to get a new pay of Ksh20,560.
''The second phase of the new basic salaries and salary scales, which form appendix I and II to this circular will be implemented for civil servants in CSG17 to CSG4 with effect from 1st July 2024,'' PS Gathecha noted.
''The second phase of the reviewed house allowance which forms appendix III to this circular will be implemented for civil Servants in CSG17 to CSG4 with effect from 1st July 2024," the PS added.
