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The CS said the move is in compliance with the directive to reduce public wage bill to 35 per cent of the national budget.
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Kuria said the country's current expenditure on salaries, allowances and benefits for public servants exceeds sustainable levels.
Image: MOSES KURIA/X
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has directed the Public Service Commission to suspend all ongoing recruitment of civil servants.
He said the measure is critical in controlling runaway recurrent expenditure and aligns with ongoing austerity measures across government.
Kuria said during the suspension, the government will conduct an audit and clean all public payrolls.
In a letter to PSC chairperson Anthony Muchiri, Kuria said all future hiring in the public sector must be justified by genuine operational needs.
"The purpose of this letter is to request you to suspend new and ongoing recruitment, including ongoing interviews for shortlisted candidates in public service, as you await the establishment of the tripartite committee to clear the most critical requests in line with the fiscal reality in the country," Kuria said.
The tripartite committee will evaluate the ongoing recruitment initiatives to ensure compliance with reducing the public wage bill directive, he said.
The committee will comprise representatives from the Ministry of Public Service, National Treasury and the Public Service Commission.
The letter to the PSC chair was copied to the Head of the Public Service Felix Koskei and Treasury CS Njuguna Ndung'u.
Kuria said the freeze on hirings is in compliance with government's directive to reduce public wage bill to 35 per cent of the national budget.
He made reference to the recent directive issued by Treasury CS Njuguna Ndung'u imposing a total freeze on employment of staff joining the public service for the next one year.
Kuria said Kenya's current expenditure on salaries, allowances and benefits for public servants exceeds sustainable levels.
He said the situation places undue strain on the national finances thereby hindering the ability to allocate resources towards essential national priorities.
"In view of expected budget cuts in the ongoing budget rationalisation, therefore, I urge you to halt any new recruitment and any that is ongoing and has not been concluded," he said.
"During the suspension of employment, the government will conduct an audit and clean all public payrolls."
The CS said the move is as was outlined during the Budget presentation to Parliament on June 13, 2024.
Kuria said the Public Finance Management Act 2012 provides that Kenya's public wage bill should not exceed 35 per cent of the national budget.
He further said the directive aligns with the prevailing austerity measures announced by the President occasioned by the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024.