The Union of Kenya Civil Servants on has moved to court to challenge the Salaries and Remuneration Commission’s (SRC) decision to freeze salary increments for all civil servants.

In court documents, the union contends that the SRC’s decision effectively denies its members their right to a pay rise. They are seeking a temporary court order to compel the SRC to withdraw and suspend its decision to freeze the implementation of salary increments for all public servants, as outlined in a circular issued on July 18, 2024, pending a full hearing and determination of their application.

“Our members are low and middle-level employees, and any salary cut or delay in any manner is likely to significantly affect them financially in regard to their daily survival,” the union states in the court papers.

The union claims that there were pre-existing agreements to implement salary increments in two phases. The first phase was scheduled to cover the period from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, while the second phase was to cover July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. The union argues that the SRC’s decision to freeze the increments undermines these negotiated agreements