Gov't Stops Hiring of Kenyan Public Servants on a Permanent Basis

The Public Service Commission (PSC) has suspended the hiring of civil servants on a permanent and pensionable basis.

The PSC says entry-level public servants will be employed on a three-year contract in a move aimed at reducing the ballooning wage bill.

The commission says the move also aims at improving the quality of services in public offices as the contract will be renewed upon satisfactory performance.

PSC Chairman Stephen Kirogo says the policy, which commences on July 1st, will not affect teachers, policemen, and the military.

“It will help shrink that expanding the public wage bill. It will also allow people to move away freely without being limited, while the Public Service Commission will also be able to bring in new skill at whatever level of employment,” said Kirogo on Wednesday.

“What we need is a public service that is productive, able to drive national economic growth and when that happens, we create more employment out there."

“We have done a study which shows that you (entry-level employees) barely want to be in one job for two years and we have to move with the trend,” concluded Kirogo.