NAIROBI, Kenya – Thousands of young Kenyans eyeing government jobs face fresh disappointment after the Treasury confirmed that the public service hiring freeze will remain in place for the next three financial years.
The restriction, which began in 2021, has now been prolonged, shutting the door on new entrants into state employment until at least 2028.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, in a circular dated August 8, said the move is part of austerity measures to keep the ballooning public wage bill under control.
“Recruitment of employees to fill new positions is halted except for replacements due to natural attrition, which must be budget-neutral and approved by the National Treasury,” Mbadi stated.
The guidelines also suspend staff promotions and prohibit allocations for new workers unless cleared by the Treasury.
“Resource allocation for new staff or upgrades requires prior approval,” Mbadi added, stressing that the public wage bill must not exceed 35 per cent of revenue.
The freeze affects ministries, departments, and agencies, which will only be allowed to replace workers who exit through retirement, death, or disciplinary dismissal.
For graduates and jobseekers, this means no new opportunities in the public service, even in priority sectors such as teaching, security, and health—unless justified by urgent service needs and fully costed in the budget.
The Treasury further ordered state offices to provide detailed estimates of personnel costs, document payrolls in the Integrated Personnel Payroll Data system, and prepare for gratuity payouts linked to contracts expiring in the 2026–27 financial year.
