Kenya’s public workforce hits 1.07 million employees; SRC

Kenya’s public workforce has crossed the 1 million mark and reached 1.07 million employees, piling pressure on the government’s wage bill as the cost of running the public service continues to rise.

New figures contained in the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) Fourth Quarter Wage Bill Bulletin for the 2025/2026 financial year show that public sector employment grew by 4.6 percent in 2025, from 1.023 million workers in 2024 to 1.07 million.

The growth was driven largely by increased hiring in key sectors, with education, public administration and defence accounting for the biggest share of public employment.

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) remains the country’s biggest public-sector employer.

Its workforce jumped from 410,700 employees in 2024 to 436,300 in 2025, representing a 6.2 per cent increase.

Ministries and other extra-budgetary institutions followed with 243,500 workers, while county governments employed 239,000 people.

The growing workforce comes as Kenya’s public wage bill continues to expand.

SRC estimates that the wage bill will rise to Sh1.287 trillion in the 2025/2026 financial year, up from Sh1.247 trillion in 2024/2025.

Passenger bus with 50 people burst into flames along Nairobi – Mombasa Highway

IEBC ordered to revise tender for new elections management system

Ministry of Education issues new directive on prayer days, AGMs and prize-giving events in schools

Murkomen’s wife responds to calls for her to return to Mount Kenya

The wage bill has risen sharply from Sh988 billion in 2020/2021.

SRC says the increase has largely been driven by expansion in teaching, health and security employment, as well as periodic salary adjustments.

Despite the rise in the wage bill, its share of ordinary government revenue has fallen from 54.77 percent in 2020/2021 to a projected 40.68 percent in 2025/2026.

But the figure remains above the 35 percent threshold set under Kenya’s public finance management framework.

The figures come against a backdrop of rising prices.

SRC says the average month-on-month inflation rate during the fourth quarter of 2025/2026 stood at 6.23 percent, significantly higher than the 3.9 percent recorded during the same period a year earlier.

The rate was also above the Central Bank of Kenya’s 5 per

cent target.

SRC warns that persistent inflation erodes the purchasing power of salaries and can increase pressure from public employees for higher pay.

US Embassy in Nairobi to be closed on Monday September 7 (DETAILS)

Duale addresses new Pharmacy Practice Standards after protest by diploma holders

IPOA accuses police of frustrating investigations into Rex Masai’s killing

KUPPET accuses Catholic clergy of intimidating school principal