KERICHO, Kenya – Public servants across Kenya are set to receive higher salaries beginning August 1, 2026, following the implementation of a government-approved pay review.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku announced the development during an event in Londiani, Kericho County, stating that the salary increment directed by President William Ruto will apply to all civil servants.
According to the CS, the review will not only raise employees’ basic pay but will also include adjustments to several allowances earned by government workers.
Ruku also instructed all government ministries, departments, and agencies to urgently transition their payroll systems to the Government Human Resource Information System (GHRIS).
He explained that the migration is intended to ensure that only genuine public servants benefit from the new salary structure while helping the government identify and eliminate ghost workers from the public payroll.
Meanwhile, a recent government payroll audit uncovered startling irregularities, including individuals listed as public servants before they were born, minors receiving salaries and millions of shillings paid through questionable accounts, exposing weaknesses in the management of State funds.
The findings, which estimate payroll fraud and related leakages have cost taxpayers Sh6.2 billion revealed cases where employment records showed some individuals had been recruited into government service before their dates of birth, while others were listed as employees despite being below the legal working age.
“There were issues of employees who were employed before they were born. Some civil servants were employed before the age of 18 years,” Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku stated.
The investigation also uncovered cases where multiple government employees were linked to the same bank accounts, raising concerns over the true beneficiaries of salary payments.
“There are employees who are sharing bank accounts. There are employees who do not have bank accounts in the system, but the records show they are receiving salaries,” Ruku said.
The National Police Service payroll was among the areas flagged, with auditors finding that Sh313.6 million had been deposited into one personal account within a single financial year.
Investigators also identified payments amounting to Sh20 million made to employees whose bank account details were missing from official records.
“There are employees without bank accounts, yet they have been paid salaries,” Ruku said.
The Department of Immigration was also highlighted in the audit after officials found unverified salary arrears running for more than six months. About Sh31.5 million was paid out without sufficient supporting documents.
The audit further revealed instances of duplicate salary payments and cases where employees received money for periods when they were not actively working.
“Why would the government accumulate salary arrears of over six months? Why?” Ruku posed.