- Muturi announced that the National Treasury had released Sh1.5 billion to effect the demands.
- Speaking after a meeting with the officials of the Kenya National Union of Civil Servants, Muturi said the government is keen to avert another industrial action.
Image: JUSTIN MUTURI/X
The government, already reeling from a ballooning public sector wage bill, has been forced to swallow the humble pie to avert a wave of strikes.
Over the last week, the government has had to cough billions of shillings in response to demands for higher pay by teachers and mainstream civil servants.
After releasing Sh15 billion to implement the CBA deal between teachers and the Teachers Service Commission, the government has acceded to higher salary demands by civil servants.
On Tuesday, the Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi moved to avert a looming strike by civil servants, announcing that the National Treasury had released Sh1.5 billion to effect the demands.
Speaking after a meeting with the officials of the Kenya National Union of Civil Servants, Muturi said the government is keen to avert another industrial action.
He said implementation of the final phase of the 2021-2023 CBA will take effect this year, backdated to July 1.
“The State Department for Public Service will use the approved budget for the financial year 2024-25 to ensure that our civil servants are well-compensated and motivated to serve Kenyans with excellence,” he said.
“Our commitment to enhancing performance and service delivery in the public sector remains steadfast.”
Muturi said that the government had made progress in implementing the CBA for 2021-2023, with the first phase fully realised in the financial year 2023-24.
The government has been facing strike threats from various sectors, threatening to hurt the already bleeding economy following months of anti-government protests.
Already, aviation workers have downed tools, protesting plans to hand over the management of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to an Indian firm.
The Kenya Airports Authority staff staged demonstrations on Monday demanding that the government recends its decision to lease the management of JKIA to a private firm.
Nearly two weeks ago, the Kenya Kwanza government had to release billions of shillings to implement pay hike demands by teachers.
The release of the money for the implementation of Phase Two of the Collective Bargaining Agreement forced the Kenya National Union of Teachers to call off its plans for a strike.
Knut had vowed that all its members would proceed on strike on August 26 but swiftly recalled the work boycott notice after striking a deal with TSC following the release of funds.
Reeling from massive anti-government protests, the government was on Monday forced to sign a deal with the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Teachers to restore normalcy in public schools.
Kuppet officials led by Secretary General Akelo Misori struck a deal with TSC late Monday evening, heaving relief for parents and students given that the third term is a crucial period for national examinations.
"After a daylong meeting, we are happy to report to the nation that we have reached an amicable settlement which will enable our teachers to resume duty immediately," TSC CEO Nancy Macharia said on Monday.
There have been concerns that waves of strikes in the country would further affect the country’s efforts to recover from past industrial actions and political protests.
Between May and July, a youthful revolt mainly driven by Generation Zoomers and Millennials had taken the country by storm with massive countrywide protests.
The protests aimed at forcing the government to implement radical policy interventions to contain the public wage bill and lower the taxation regime affected the government’s revenues.
Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura had in July said that the nation lost over Sh6 billion due to the wave of protests experienced in the preceding month alone.
Mwaura explained that the country lost billions as a result of business closures during the protests held on Tuesdays and Thursdays since June 18, 2024.
"We cannot forget the business people who suffered losses worth billions of shillings as their businesses remained closed. We wish to empathise with them as they strive to recoup their lost incomes. Overall, the country has lost approximately Sh6 billion as a result of demonstrations, according to the Kenya Revenue Authority," he said on July 18.
Youths took to the streets to protest against the opulence displayed by government officials and seek for withdrawal of the Finance Bill, accountability and good governance.
They have also called on the president to resign from office, arguing that the old political class is responsible for the country's economic status.
President William Ruto later acceded to some of the demands, rejected the Finance Bill, 2024 and engineered far-reaching reforms including overhauling his Cabinet.