Police officers to receive salary increment beginning August

Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome in Nyeri County on August 8, 2023. [Mose Sammy, Standard]

Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome has assured Police Officers that they will receive salary increments beginning August 2023. 

Speaking on Wednesday, August 23, Koome said that the National Police Service (NPS) salary and welfare committee chaired by Eliud Kinuthia has been actively in talks with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to ensure that officers get an increment.

“We have had several meetings with SRC, negotiating police salaries. It wasn’t easy and it took a while to reach an agreement but we did. I have received the report on the new salaries to be paid and we shall start running the payroll today. I want to assure every police officer that by Friday, this week, they will receive their new salaries as stated in the report,” said Koome.

According to the police IG Koome, the committee will continue to engage SRC in further talks to ensure that the officers earn more.

Kinuthia signed the implementation of the remuneration and benefits for the service.

With his signature, police officers now in different job groups stand to gain an increment of between Sh1,255 and Sh11,249.

Also set to benefit are support staff who work with the police. The support staff who are in different job groups will be getting an increment between Sh2,300 and Sh11,020.

“The government has moved to correct a number of issues affecting police service and established the National Task Force on police reforms that is chaired by Chief Justice David Maraga. The team will work with SRC to ensure the salary increment is also applied to police officers,” said Kinuthia.

The signing was witnessed by Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome, DCI boss Mohammed Amin, Deputy Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, and commissioners of the NPSC.

Kinuthia also noted that the remuneration review is the third since 2019.

“This is the outcome of the four-year review cycle for all public servants,” he said.

Kinuthia was quick to point out that the review did not include views collected by the retired Chief Justice David Maraga-led taskforce.

According to Kinuthia, the salary review would have taken place with or without views from the Maraga task force.

The task force has yet to present its report to President William Ruto.

“Where we are we await for the report to be concluded and we know most of the issues we raised will be considered,” said Kinuthia.

Out of Sh27.1 billion that was released by the Treasury for pay increment of public servants, police will be getting Sh3.6 billion.

A further Sh2.8 billion will be released to the officers in the 2023-24 Financial Year while Sh1.3 billion is set to be released in the FY2024-25.

Currently, the least paid police officer is a Constable who earns Sh32,880 followed by a Corporal who takes home Sh42,660 a month.

The Inspector General, who earns the most in the Police Service, receives Sh852,241 every month with his senior assistant earning Sh274,890 monthly.

Other ranks between the Sergeant and the Commissioner of Police earn between Sh45,000 to Sh130,000 each month.