Massive job losses are looming in government as the state moves to institute a radical purge and restructuring of the public service to tame the ballooning wage bill.
President William Ruto directed the state agencies to reduce wages and salaries to the required level of 35 per cent of the revenue by 2027.
The third National Wage Bill Conference that ended on Wednesday resolved to attain the target by 2028.
“The job that we have assigned ourselves of bringing down the wage bill from 46 per cent to revenue to 35 per cent to revenue can be achieved by 2027,” the President said.
Speaking during the closure of the conference, Ruto ordered anti-graft agencies to crack the whip on the over 2,100 civil servants holding fake certificates.
“The 2,100 people identified who have been earning government wages and salaries with fake certificates should just refund the government money without the games. Otherwise EACC , DCI must move with speed to recover the resources,” he said.
The head of state added, “Those with fake certificates earning government money, please, just surrender the government money and walk away.”
The President ordered Ministry of Public Service to conclude the restructuring in ministries, departments and agencies within one year.
This will establish the staffing levels and gaps.
“We must change course radically. Therefore, we shall review authorised establishments to design fit-for-purpose organisational structures for MDAs with optimal staffing levels and achieve fiscal sustainability at the same time,” he said.
The President reiterated that although there was no doubt that government will need to increase employment in critical sectors to enhance service delivery, there was a need for action to eliminate duplication and overlaps in public service.
He emphasised the need to streamline roles among ministries, departments and agencies of the national and county governments and commissions and independent offices.
Currently, the country spends Sh1.1 trillion or 46 per cent of ordinary revenue on wages and salaries.
“Even though our public sector wage bill is unsustainable as it stands at Sh1.1 trillion, it represents only 62 per cent of the authorised establishment in the national government, and a 100 per cent recruitment would drive the wage bill to Sh1.8 trillion,” Ruto said.
He said the public service is currently seriously skewed towards hiring support staff at the expense of technical and other core functions.
Some 83 per cent of state departments have violated the recommended ratio of technical staff to support services.
The President took a swipe at Members of Parliament and doctors for always pushing the Salaries and Remuneration Commission for higher pay.
“I know, if there is an agency that is not very popular it is the SRC . They have a problem with the Legislature, the Executive and even the Judiciary because everybody expects more pay.
“I want to encourage our Legislature. I know they have tried in the past to limit the budget of SRC as a punishment. I want to encourage them to be more patriotic,” he said.
Concerning doctors on strike, the President said, “It is a tragedy for highly educated professionals to make unreasonable demands in the face of economic hardships and fiscal constraints at the expense of the legitimate needs of other citizens. We have to live within our means, which are well-known.”
Speaking at the event held at the Bomas of Kenya, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua called for crackdown on academic cheats in public service.
Gachagua saud the country was spending billions on education and there was no justification for some civil servants to hold fake papers.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi asked the stakeholders responsible for achieving the target set by the conference to make the hard decisions.
“Resolutions in Bomas sometimes are bitter, sour or sweet. We are all resolving that the target of 35 per cent of revenue is significant,” he said.
Salaries and Renumeration Commission chairperson Lyn Mengich, who read the conference’s resolutions, called for support and commitment as they embark on the difficult task of achieving the target by 2028.