The Salaries and Remuneration Commission has moved to secure Sh80 million to organise a national forum focused on boosting output in the public sector, arguing that stronger performance is central to easing pressure from the growing wage bill.
The request was tabled during the 29th Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council meeting led by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, where concerns were raised over the pace at which payroll costs are consuming public revenue.
In its presentation to the council, the commission painted a picture of salary expenditure that continues to strain government finances at both national and county levels. It maintained that unless productivity is raised and tied directly to pay, salary growth will keep moving ahead of revenue collection.
The proposed allocation sets aside Sh65 million for organising the conference, including costs for the venue, accommodation and meals, delegate coordination, digital systems and media engagement.
A further Sh15 million will finance the National Productivity and Performance Awards, which are intended to honour institutions and officers who demonstrate clear improvements in service delivery and output.
SRC chairperson Sammy Chepkwony said the event, scheduled for May 2026, is expected to attract about 4,000 delegates drawn from public institutions, private enterprises, learning institutions, civil society and development partners.
The gathering is designed to build consensus on how to connect remuneration to measurable performance and promote efficiency across government offices.
According to figures shared at the meeting, the wage bill accounted for 43.3 per cent of ordinary revenue in the 2023/2024 financial year. Projections show it will ease slightly to 40.4 per cent in 2024/2025, though this still exceeds the 35 per cent ceiling targeted for 2028.
Chepkwony cautioned that “wage growth will continue to outpace revenue without productivity reforms” and appealed to IBEC to back the funding request through the National Treasury.
Beyond the conference, the commission proposed restructuring staff levels where necessary and rolling out a harmonised payroll system to tighten control and improve accountability. It stressed that sustainable pay policies must go hand in hand with better results in service delivery.
The 2026 National Productivity and Performance Conference will follow up on the 3rd National Wage Bill Conference and aims to strengthen frameworks that reward measurable gains in productivity. Through this approach, SRC hopes to support improved efficiency in public institutions while keeping the wage bill within manageable limits.
