Thousands of public service jobs could be scrapped as Parliament pushes for sweeping reforms in Kenya’s public administration in an effort aimed at eliminating duplication and curbing wastage.
In a report tabled by the Departmental Committee on Labour during its review of the 2025/2026 Budget Estimates, MPs raised alarm over what they termed as “overlapping mandates” between the Public Service Commission (PSC) and the State Department for Public Service and Human Capital Development.
National Assembly Labour Committee chair Richard Chonga, who is also the MP for Kilifi, says there is an urgent need for restructuring of the two institutions to streamline operations and reduce redundancies.
“There is an overwhelming duplication of roles—especially in functions such as human resource management and consultancy—which calls for a comprehensive review of legal frameworks, including the Constitution if necessary,” said Chonga, in the report.
Role duplication has seen President William Ruto’s government grapple with a ballooning wage bill forcing the state to resort to borrowing to pay salaries.
For instance, the government spent Sh415.7 billion—more than half of the funds it borrowed during the financial year ending June 2024—on recurrent expenses such as salaries, allowances, and utilities, in violation of fiscal rules.
