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CS Kuria mulls plan to hire civil servants on contract

"If you want to be permanent, show me that even on earth your tenure is permanent."

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by Magdalene Saya

News23 April 2024 - 15:00
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In Summary


  • Kuria said he will present the proposal when the Cabinet convenes for its meeting on Friday this week.
  • Kuria said the government is committed to slashing the wage bill, part of the scheme being scrapping employment of staff on permanent terms.
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Cabinet secretary Public service Moses Kuria speaks during a briefing at KICC on the issue of doctors strike on April 23,2024/EZEKIEL AMING'A

Public Service CS Moses Kuria has disclosed plans to bring a proposal that will ensure all employees under the national government are hired on contracts.

Kuria said he will present the proposal when the Cabinet convenes for its meeting on Friday this week.

He was speaking after Tuesday's meeting of the 'Whole of Nation Approach Committee' where government offered striking doctors Sh6.1 billion to resolved their issues.

The doctors, who have now been on strike for 41 days, are demanding, among other issues, the conversion of their employment to permanent and pensionable terms.

Talks to resolve their strike has seen a deal reached on 18 of the 19 issues they raised except the posting on interns on a Sh206,000 monthly pay.

But in a quick rejoinder, Kuria said the government is committed to slashing the wage bill, part of the scheme being scrapping employment of staff on permanent terms.

"If the doctors think that we are against them, this week on Friday I will be moving to Cabinet to present a proposal, which if Cabinet approves, all government workers at the national government from drivers to cleaners, everybody would be converted to contracts, there is not going to be anybody permanent anymore," Kuria said.

The CS said those who wish to be hired on permanent terms will have to proof that their tenure on earth is permanent.

He said should the Cabinet give his recommendation a nod of approval, everyone, including the President, will serve on contract. 

Kuria, however, noted that the terms will be pensionable.

"We are going to convert them from permanent and pensionable to contract but still pensionable so that now our service, I'm on contract, the President of this country is on contract...we are all going to be on contract because we have to focus on matters productivity," Kuria said.

"If you want to be permanent show me that even on earth your tenure is permanent. We are all on contract, even on this earth, we are all on contract."

The CS reiterated his earlier remarks during the wage bill conference where he said 53 million Kenyans were working for almost one million public servants.

According to the CS Kuria, it is unacceptable for one million people to take half of the country's revenue.

Earlier this month, the CS disclosed that the Public Service and Performance Ministry will undertake a radical and comprehensive surgical reform of the public service to check the bloated wage bill.

He said this is in line with government's committment in December last to reducing its wage bill to 35 per cent of total revenue by 2028, in line with Public Finance Management Act, 2012.

Kuria urged the county governments to align their spending towards realising this vision.

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