The Ministry of Public Service has suspended all new and ongoing recruitment in the public service for the next one year.
This measure, announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Moses Kuria, aligns with austerity efforts to control runaway recurrent expenditures and ensure compliance with the Public Finance Management Act 2012, which mandates that Kenya’s public wage bill should not exceed 35 percent of national revenue.
In a letter addressed to Amb. Anthony Muchiri, Chairperson of the Public Service Commission, Kuria cited the need to halt any new recruitment and any ongoing processes that have not been concluded. “During the suspension of employment, the government will conduct an audit and clean all public payrolls,” Kuria stated.
The government will form a tripartite committee consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management, the Ministry of National Treasury and Economic Planning, and the Public Service Commission. This committee will evaluate ongoing recruitment initiatives to ensure compliance with reducing the public wage bill directive. “Any future hiring in the public sector must be justified by genuine operational needs,” emphasized Kuria.
Kuria also referenced the recent directive by Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u, Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning, regarding a total freeze on the employment of staff joining the public service. This directive was highlighted during the budget presentation to Parliament on June 13, 2024, as critical in aligning with austerity measures across the government.
The purpose of the letter is to request the suspension of new and ongoing recruitment, including interviews for shortlisted candidates in the public service, until the tripartite committee clears the most critical requests in line with fiscal realities in the country.
“I look forward to your prompt action,” concluded Kuria.
This decisive action aims to streamline public service expenditure and ensure that resources are allocated towards essential national priorities, reinforcing the government’s commitment to fiscal prudence.
