Have you ever wondered how the government determines the salaries of its employees across cadres? What are the job groups and what perks do you stand to enjoy as a civil servant?
Well, this is the mandate of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), under the leadership of its chairperson Lyn Mengich.
Established under Article 230 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, SRC is mandated to harmonise wages for State and public officers.
The principles of pay determination are affordability and sustainability of the Public Sector wage bill, fairness and transparency, attraction and retention of requisite skills, and productivity and performance.
Civil servants are clustered into job groups and harmonised from the lowest earner to the highest. Kenyans.co.ke breaks down these groups:
Job group B1
This is the lowest job group in Kenya and consists of low-skilled workers. They include; Officer III, Support Staff, Operator III, and Attendant III. The salary scale for this group is Ksh11,553 – Ksh14,442.
Job Group B2
This group classifies skilled and lower supervisory staff. The salary scale for Job group B2 is Ksh14,007 – Ksh17,508.
Job group B3
This group gets a basic pay of between Ksh16,777 and Ksh20,972.
Job group B4
Formerly group G, this group consist of skilled staff who earn a basic salary of between Ksh19,859 and Ksh24,823.
Job group B5
Civil servants in this capacity are mostly top executives and senior specialists (heads of institutions) and get a salary of between Ksh23,176 and Ksh28,970.
Job group C1
Workers in this group are not only highly skilled but get a better pay of between Ksh28,970 and Ksh39,110.
Job group C2
Formerly group K, workers in this category earn between Ksh36,411 and Ksh47,373.
Job group C3
Employees who go through some training before they are absorbed take home between Ksh44,898 and Ksh56,326 in this category.
Job group C4
With a bit of working experience and higher academic qualifications, professionals in this grade pocket between Ksh54,532 – Ksh68,165.
Job Group C5
With a scale of Ksh64,919 – Ksh81,148, job group C5 holds a significant size of Kenya’s skilled workforce.
Job Group D1
Most employees in this job group are in entry-level management positions and earn between Ksh81,148 – Ksh109,550 for workers in Group D1.
Job group D2
This is the 11th level in the civil servant grading system. Employees in this category earn between Ksh97,184 – Ksh130,226.
Job Group D3
Consisting of managerial personnel, the group’s salary ranges between Ksh114,334 – Ksh152,064.
Job Group D4
Professionals in this group, mostly in middle or high-level management, are highly skilled and earn between Ksh132,178 and Ksh174,425.
Job Group D5
These are among the highest-paid employees in Kenya. They earn between Ksh150,202 and Ksh198,267.
Job group E1
Employees under E1 earn between Ksh198,267 and Ksh257,747.
Job group E2
Employees here are the second-highest-paid with a salary scale of Ksh221,508 and Ksh282,954. The position requires a high level of experience.
Job group E4
Job group E4 gives a basic salary range of Ksh292,765 and Ksh576,120. The job group has highly skilled and specialized personnel – mostly in high-level management positions – with a high level of education and matching working experience.
On allowances;
Commuter allowance
This covers transport expenses to and from work, including official errands. Employees in Job Groups B1 to C1 receive a monthly commuter allowance of, at least, Ksh3,000, while those in Group C2 get Ksh4,000.
Other allowances in Kenya
These allowances add a significant amount to the basic pay and include:
Transfer allowance:
After a transfer, employees are entitled to an allowance to facilitate their movement and settling in.
Risk allowance:
This is granted to workers who are exposed to harsh conditions and risks in the course of their work.
Hardship allowance:
This is enjoyed by civil servants in hardship areas; remote and rural areas.
