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All civil servants expect a salary increase starting this month after Ruto’s promise
01st July, 2026 03:55 PM
Thousands of civil servants across Kenya are expected to receive higher salaries starting this month after President William Ruto directed a review of pay and allowances for public servants.
The salary increment, which takes effect in July 2026, was announced by Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, during the Public Service Week celebrations held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
“President William Ruto and his government are increasing the salaries of all public servants in July this year. It will be gross pay, housing allowance and commuter allowance, which will be increased once more in July this year,” Ruku said.
The announcement means employees working in ministries, state departments, state agencies and other public institutions can expect improved pay in their July salaries, offering relief amid the rising cost of living.
Salary increment
The latest increase follows an earlier salary adjustment that was implemented in January 2026 but backdated to July 2025 as part of the government’s ongoing remuneration review cycle. The current review is expected to further improve the welfare and motivation of public servants.
Besides the salary review, Ruku announced that all government institutions have been directed to migrate their payroll systems to the government’s Human Resource Information System (HRIS). The move is aimed at improving efficiency, accountability and transparency in the management of public funds.
He warned that ministries, state departments, agencies and county governments that fail to migrate to the unified payroll system within the stipulated timeline risk being locked out of government salary payments.
“To ensure efficiency and proper use of public resources and taxes, the President has directed that all ministries, county governments, agencies, and state departments must be on one payroll platform, the Human Resource Information System,” he said
“All departments that will not have complied within one month will not remit your salaries.”
Benefits of the increment
The salary increase is expected to benefit thousands of government workers across the country.
The increment is also expected to offer much-needed relief to civil servants who have been grappling with the high cost of living. In recent years, many households have faced rising prices for food, fuel, electricity, transport, rent and other essential goods and services.
By increasing salaries and allowances, the government hopes to boost workers’ purchasing power, help them better meet their daily expenses and ease some of the financial pressure caused by inflation.
