Kenya’s public workforce hits 1.07 million as wage bill soars

Nairobi, Kenya – On September 4, Kenya's public workforce has surpassed the 1 million employee mark, reaching 1.07 million workers, according to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC). This surge in public sector employment has put strain on the government's wage bill, which is steadily increasing. The commission's Fourth Quarter Wage Bill Bulletin for the 2025/2026 financial year reveals a 4.6% growth in public sector jobs, from 1.023 million in 2024 to 1.07 million.

The education, public administration, and defense sectors contributed the most to this expansion. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) leads the workforce with a 6.2% increase, going from 410,700 employees in 2024 to 436,300 in 2025. Ministries and other extra-budgetary institutions employed 243,500 people, while county governments had 239,000 workers.

As the public wage bill climbs, projected to reach Sh1.287 trillion in the 2025/2026 fiscal year, from Sh1.247 trillion in the previous year, the commission attributes this growth primarily to increased hiring in teaching, health, and security sectors, coupled with periodic salary adjustments. Although the share of the wage bill in ordinary government revenue has decreased from 54.77% in 2020/2021 to a projected 40.68% in 2025/2026, it still remains above the 35% threshold established by Kenya's public finance management framework.

The rising cost of living, with an average month-on-month inflation rate of 6.23% during the fourth quarter of 2025/2026, surpassing the Central Bank of Kenya's 5% target, exacerbates the situation. Persistent inflation diminishes the purchasing power of salaries, potentially increasing pressure on public employees for higher wages.