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A looming nationwide strike by civil servants has been averted after the government announced its commitment to implementing the second phase of a negotiated pay rise under the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi disclosed that the National Treasury will release KSh 1.5 billion to the State Department for Public Service to settle the outstanding tranche.
The announcement followed a meeting between Muturi and the Union of Kenya Civil Servants (UKCS), where both parties expressed a mutual understanding regarding the delay in implementing the pay rise. UKCS Secretary General Tom Odege confirmed that the union had called off the planned strike after receiving assurances from the government.
“There was no dispute, just a delay,” said Muturi, noting that the pay rise had already been authorized with the concurrence of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC). He emphasized that the delay was purely administrative and that the government was committed to honoring its agreement with the civil servants.
“We got concurrence from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission to sign a Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Union of Kenya Civil Servants for the period 2021-2023 and within agreed parameters for the Financial Years 2023-2025 and 2024-2025,” Muturi explained.
The second phase of the CBA, which was initially scheduled to take effect from July 1, 2024, will now be implemented by the end of September. This phase includes a salary increase for civil servants, a crucial element of the CBA that the union had been pressing for.
The UKCS had earlier issued a nationwide strike notice in response to the government’s failure to implement the agreed pay rise on time. The strike was set to commence at the end of September if the government did not meet the union’s demands. However, following the announcement, the union has decided to call off the strike, providing relief to the government and ensuring continuity in public services.
Muturi assured civil servants that their salaries would soon reflect the agreed increases and reiterated the government’s commitment to addressing issues within the public service sector. “The State Department for Public Service will use the approved budget for FY 2024/2025 to ensure that our civil servants are well-compensated and motivated to serve Kenyans with excellence,” he stated.
He further emphasized the importance of maintaining open lines of communication with the union to prevent future disruptions. “We are also engaging in constructive dialogue with the Union of Kenya Civil Servants to avert any disruptions and ensure that we move forward together in a spirit of mutual respect and understanding,” Muturi added.
The CBA also includes provisions for confirming casual employees as per the agreement, a point that the union has been keen on ensuring is implemented.
With the government’s prompt response, a potential crisis has been averted, and civil servants can look forward to receiving their revised salaries, reinforcing the importance of timely and effective communication between the government and its workforce.
