President William Ruto on Wednesday directed the National Treasury to review the gazette notice issued by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) recommending an increase in the salaries of state officers.

In a statement issued by State House spokesperson Hussein Mohammed, it was communicated that Ruto had emphasised that the executive & all arms of government to live within their means in light of the Finance Bill, 2024 withdrawal.

"President Ruto has directed the National Treasury to review the Gazette Notice dated August 9, 2023, from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) regarding the remuneration & benefits for State officers," the statement read.

"In light of the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024 & the fiscal constraints expected this financial year. The President has emphasised that this is a time, more than ever before, for the Executive & all arms of government to live within their means," the statement further read.

President Ruto's statement came a few moments after Public Service CS, Moses Kuria, announced that he had declined to implement the proposed salary increases.

“As the Cabinet Secretary responsible for Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management therefore, I decline to implement the gazette notice on increased salaries as applies to the Executive arm of National Government and urge the Commission to degazette the implementation of the new salary structure, in its entirety, across all levels of Government”, read the letter in part. 

In his statement, Moses Kuria noted that while the SRC was acting in its mandate to set and regularly review the remuneration and benefits of all State Officers, Kenya was struggling to maintain its wage bill.

The CS further added that the austerity measures and the aim to reduce the wage bill to 35 per cent of the country's revenue had been discussed during the Annual Wage Bill Conference which was held in April this year. 

" I refer to the Resolutions of the Third National Wage Bill Conference held on 15-17th April 2024 to reduce the Wage bill to 35 percent of revenue as provided in the Public Finance Management Act 2012 and the prevailing austerity measures announced by H.E the President occasioned by the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024”, stated Moses Kuria.

Additionally, the CS noted that the review of the salaries had been conducted and gazetted in August 2023 and was scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2024.

Meanwhile, the SRC has announced a media invite and press briefing slated for Wednesday evening.