The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has suspended the implementation of newly reviewed remuneration and benefits for several categories of county government officials, citing concerns over the sustainability of county wage bills.
The suspension took effect immediately and affects remuneration structures issued for state officers in county executives, members of County Public Service Boards, County Secretaries and County Attorneys.
SRC Chairperson Sammy Chepkwony said the decision followed consultations with the Council of Governors (CoG) and consideration of submissions from county governments regarding the revised remuneration structures.
In a letter dated September 11, 2026, Chepkwony said the Commission had resolved to suspend the implementation of the remuneration and benefits structures for county governments.
The commission said its decision was informed by the financial position of county governments, noting that most counties currently have wage bills exceeding 35 per cent of their ordinary revenue.
According to SRC, implementing the revised pay and benefits under the current fiscal conditions could have significant implications for the affordability and long-term sustainability of county wage bills.
The commission said the suspension would provide room for further consultations between SRC, the Council of Governors, the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) and the National Treasury.
The move has, however, attracted criticism from the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), which questioned the application of fiscal responsibility measures to county employees.
KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atella argued that county health workers and other devolved government employees are public servants who deserve predictable and equitable remuneration.
“We cannot have one National Treasury and one public wage bill, yet apply fiscal responsibility selectively when it comes to devolved workers,” Atella said.
He called for the suspension to be lifted, arguing that concerns over affordability should be addressed through transparent consultations involving the national government, county governments and affected employees.
Atella also urged the government to involve representatives of county workers in discussions on remuneration, saying employees should not bear the burden of fiscal pressures without being part of the decision-making process.
The suspension leaves the implementation of the remuneration reviews announced in July 2026 on hold as SRC and other government institutions undertake further consultations on their financial implications.
