KMPDU Challenges SRC County Pay Suspension Kenya: Union Fights Devolved Pay

• The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has challenged the Salaries and Remuneration Commission's (SRC) suspension of revised pay structures for county officers.
• The SRC suspended the structures, effective September 11, 2026, citing concerns over counties' ability to sustain additional costs and a high wage-bill-to-revenue ratio.
• KMPDU Secretary-General Davji Atellah accused the SRC of selectively applying fiscal responsibility and demanded fair remuneration for county workers.
• The union argues that devolution should not mean transferring responsibilities without adequate resources for workers to deliver essential services.
• KMPDU seeks the reversal of the suspension and calls for comprehensive consultations involving all stakeholders, including worker representatives.

Atellah emphasized that the public wage bill is a national responsibility and that the dignity of workers is non-negotiable, highlighting the union's commitment to protecting its members' interests.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has formally challenged a recent decision by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to suspend the implementation of revised remuneration and benefits for various officers within county governments. This move by the KMPDU challenges SRC county pay suspension Kenya, sparking a significant dispute over public sector compensation.

KMPDU Secretary-General Davji Atellah voiced strong criticism against the SRC, accusing the commission of selectively applying fiscal responsibility measures to employees in devolved units. Atellah emphasized that county workers should not be singled out to bear the burden of efforts aimed at containing the national public wage bill. He argued that despite having a single National Treasury and a unified public wage bill, fiscal responsibility was being applied disproportionately to those working in county structures.

The SRC's decision, communicated in a letter dated September 11, 2026, mandated the immediate suspension of three distinct revised remuneration and benefits structures. This action followed deliberations on submissions received from the Council of Governors. The affected groups include State officers serving in county executives, members of county public service boards, and both county secretaries and county attorneys. The SRC had previously communicated the structures for county executives, secretaries, and attorneys on July 30, while the structure for county public service board members was issued on July 21.

The Salaries and Remuneration Commission Kenya justified its decision to implement the SRC remuneration suspension county by citing profound concerns regarding the financial capacity of county governments to sustain the additional remuneration costs. The commission highlighted that a majority of county governments currently operate with a wage-bill-to-ordinary-revenue ratio exceeding 35 per cent, indicating a precarious financial position.

According to the SRC, proceeding with the implementation of these revised remuneration and benefits structures under the prevailing fiscal conditions would have severe implications for the affordability and overall fiscal sustainability of the public wage bill at the county level. The commission stated that its actions were guided by constitutional principles, specifically Article 201 of the Constitution, alongside provisions of the Public Finance Management Act. These legal frameworks mandate the prudent and responsible management of public resources and strict adherence to principles of fiscal responsibility. Consequently, the SRC concluded that the revised structures were not sustainable within the current economic environment.

Despite the suspension, the SRC indicated that its decision was also intended to facilitate further consultations. These discussions are planned to involve key stakeholders including the Council of Governors, the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA), and the National Treasury, aiming to find a sustainable path forward.

The KMPDU, through Davji Atellah, firmly asserted that the SRC's suspension decision carries significant negative implications for workers who deliver essential services at the county level. Atellah underscored that county health workers and other devolved employees are public servants who are entitled to fair and predictable remuneration. He articulated that the concept of devolution should not entail the transfer of responsibilities without also providing the necessary resources and conditions for workers to effectively deliver vital services.

Atellah called for a comprehensive approach to address the affordability and fiscal sustainability concerns raised by the SRC. He proposed that these issues be tackled through inclusive consultations involving the commission itself, the Council of Governors, the National Treasury, the CRA, and crucially, representatives of the affected workers. The union has made it clear that it will not passively observe as county workers are compelled to shoulder the entirety of fiscal pressures alone.

In a resolute stance, the KMPDU is demanding the reversal of the suspension and has called for substantive engagement with workers and their representatives before any further decisions are made regarding county pay structures. Atellah emphasized that the public wage bill is a national responsibility and that the dignity of workers is non-negotiable, highlighting the union's commitment to protecting its members' interests.

This ongoing disagreement between the KMPDU and the SRC unfolds against a backdrop of persistent efforts by both national and county governments to manage public expenditure and maintain the Kenya public wage bill sustainability within manageable levels. The challenge lies in balancing the need for fiscal prudence with the imperative of ensuring the continued delivery of essential services to citizens across the country.

The dispute underscores a fundamental tension between economic austerity measures and the rights and welfare of public sector employees. While the SRC emphasizes the constitutional mandate for fiscal responsibility and the financial constraints faced by counties, the KMPDU champions the principle of fair compensation and the critical role of devolved workers in service provision. The outcome of this challenge will likely set a precedent for future negotiations and policy decisions concerning public sector remuneration in Kenya.

Lawyers advising county governments or public sector unions should monitor the KMPDU's challenge against the SRC's suspension of revised county pay structures, as it impacts employee remuneration, budget planning, and potential industrial relations disputes. Compliance officers in county entities need to be aware of the ongoing uncertainty regarding county employee compensation and its implications for fiscal sustainability and HR policies.

Source: Original reporting via Capital News