President Uhuru: Employees of parastatals must be evaluated

President Uhuru Kenyatta at the launch of Public Sector Remuneration and Benefits Policy

NAIROBI, KENYA: President Uhuru Kenyatta has told employees of parastatals to be ready to participate in a job evaluation exercise together with other public servants.

The President also directed parastatals to implement the Public Sector Remuneration and Benefits Policy, which he launched on Friday at the Kenyatta International Convention Center.

After launching the policy document, President Kenyatta also launched the Job Evaluation Exercise that will be carried out by the Salaries Review Commission.

The Head of State called on all stakeholders and government agencies to cooperate with the SRC to implement the policy and undertake the job evaluation exercise.

He said no agency under the Government should think that it is separate from the public service.

“If you are parastatal employees you should know that you are part of the public service and you must be part of this process. You are not private citizens in business,” he said.

The President said the successful implementation of the policy is a key factor in achievement of the country’s development goals.

“The successful implementation of the policy and results of the evaluation exercise will determine effective management of remuneration in this country which is a key factor in achieving Vision 2030 goals and the aspirations of our Constitution,” said the President.

The objective of the Public Sector Remuneration and Benefits Policy is to operationalise Article 239 of the Constitution that requires the wage bill be fiscally sustainable.

The policy framework is also supposed to enable the public service to attract and retain skilled personnel.

It will also help the Government to fulfil the Constitutional requirement to recognise productivity and performance in the civil service.

President Kenyatta said the job evaluation exercise, which he kicked off at the KICC, is necessary because of the new pay and benefits policy.  

“I understand the aim of this exercise is to harmonise and streamline pay and benefits in the public sector with a view to ensuring that public money is managed in an effective, efficient and prudent manner,” he said.

Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru said the Government will be relentless in implementing the new policy to improve the quality of service to Kenyans.

The Salaries and Review Commission chairperson Sarah Serem said the commission was committed to transforming the public service.

She said efforts to reduce the wage are difficult over the short term but will bring sanity in the country’s economic management over the long term.

Head of Public and Chief of Staff Joseph Kinyua and the Deputy Chief Justice Kalpana Rawal attended the function.