President William Ruto has directed a review of pay and allowances across the public service, paving the way for a salary increase for all public servants effective July this year.
Speaking on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, during Public Service Week celebrations held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), the Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku said the adjustment will cover gross pay, housing allowance, and commuter allowance, affecting all categories of public servants.
“President William Ruto and his government are increasing the salaries of all public servants in July this year. It will be gross pay, housing allowance, and commuter allowance, which will be increased once more in July this year,” Ruku announced.
The CS said the changes are part of broader reforms within the public service sector.
Ruko on payroll system
Ruku further noted that the government is also implementing a unified payroll system to enhance efficiency and accountability in the management of public resources.
He directed all government entities to immediately migrate their payroll systems to the government’s Human Resource Information System (HRIS), adding that the directive applies to all ministries, state departments, state agencies, and county governments as part of efforts to enhance accountability and improve management of public resources.
The CS also revealed that the directive had been issued by Ruto and warned that institutions that fail to comply within one month risk severe consequences.
“To ensure efficiency and proper use of public resources and taxes, the President has directed that all ministries, county governments, agencies, and state departments must be on one payroll platform, the Human Resource Information System,” he said
Additionally, Ruku added that all government departments will be required to comply within one month, warning that failure to do so would affect salary processing.
“All departments that will not have complied within one month will not remit your salaries,” he added.
The reforms are part of ongoing efforts by the government to centralise payroll systems and improve transparency in public sector wage management.