SRC Suspends New Salaries and Benefits for County Officials Over Wage Bill Concerns

The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has immediately suspended the implementation of newly reviewed pay structures for county officials, citing concerns over the sustainability of county wage bills. The decision followed consultations with the Council of Governors and was driven by the fact that most counties have wage bills exceeding 35% of their revenue. The SRC warned that implementing these pay structures could threaten the financial viability of county governments and called for further engagement with relevant authorities. The move was criticized by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), which argued that county health workers and other public servants deserve predictable and fair remuneration.