Last updated on January 10th, 2024 at 07:22 pm
Job groups are job classes linked by a common purpose, set of skills, education, or certification requirement. Therefore, job groups in Kenya are generally classified according to an employee’s level of education, set of skills, and certification. For public servants, job groups and their salaries are set and regularly reviewed by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC). Currently, the chairperson of the SRC is Lyn Cherop Mengich. In this article, I will walk you through various job groups in Kenya, each with a compensation package according to the latest SRC review.
What is the role of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC)?
The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) is one of the independent commissions established under Article 230 of the Constitution of Kenya (2010) to bring order and sanity to salary setting. The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), as per Article 230 of the 2010 Kenyan Constitution, Section 12 of the SRC Act, 2011, is responsible for setting and periodically updating the compensation and benefits of state officers. Additionally, it offers guidance to national and county governments regarding the remuneration and benefits of all other public officers. Also note that the county government job groups and salaries are similar to those issued by the national government through the Public Service Commission, at least for the basic salaries. Allowances may differ.
How does the SRC classify job groups in Kenya?
The current civil service structure has 23 levels, from Job Group A to Job Group T. Where A is the lowest and T is the highest. This grading has been adjusted to the grading structure in the whole of the public sector. The SRC classifies job groups in Kenya according to employees’ level of education, skillset, and certification. The main aim here is to ensure equity and fairness for employees working as public servants.
Because employees have different education levels, skills, and certifications, there are different job groups in Kenya classified under these factors, and in this article, we will discuss each of these job groups plus the associated salaries.
Job groups in Kenya (SRC salaries)
The Salaries and Remuneration Commission conducted a job evaluation exercise in the public service. Among its recommendations was compressing the current 21-tier grading structure of job groups ‘A’ to ‘V’ into a shorter structure in the civil service.
The Ministry of Public Service, youth, and gender, in consultation with the Public Service Commission, the National Treasury, the Office of the Attorney General, and the Salaries Remuneration Commission, adopted a 17-tier grading structure, as Bizhack Kenya shows below, to be implemented in the civil service.
The National Treasury, via letter Ref No. TNT/22/44/122/’P'(99) dated June 17, 2019, gave no objection to the implementation of the 17-tier grading structure and provided funding for the same.
Conversion to the 17-tier grading structure in the civil service, whose salary conversion tables are in appendices to this circular, was implemented with effect from August 1, 2019.
The 17-tier grading structure merges specific grades whose job descriptions and specifications are similar. The merger will result in new grades and generic designations, as indicated in the table below.
| New Job Grade | Current Job Group |
|---|---|
| B1 | A, B, C (CPSB 18, 17, 19) |
| B2 | D, E (CPSB 15 and 14) |
| B3 | F (CPSB 13) |
| B4 | G (CPSB 12) |
| B5 | D, E (CPSB 15 and 14) |
| C1 | J (CPSB 10) |
| C2 | K (CPSB 9) |
| C3 | L (CPSB 8) |
| C4 | M (CPSB 7) |
| C5 | N (CPSB 6) |
| D1 | P (CPSB 5) |
| D2 | Q (CPSB 4) |
| D3 | R (CPSB 3) |
| D4 | S (CPSB 2) |
| D5 | T (CPSB 1) |
| E1 | |
| E2 | |
| E4 |
All civil servants in the national government in job groups ‘A’ to ‘T’ will convert to B1-D5.
Conversions to the 17-tier grading structure were applied to civil servants in the national government in job groups ‘A’ to ‘V’ that were in service after August 1, 2019.
The following are the job groups in Kenya based on the recent conversions with new salaries and allowances:
Job group B1: The New salary is Ksh. 13,530 to Ksh. 14,610 monthly
Employees in Group B1 are the lowest-paid job group in Kenya and aggregate low-skilled laborers. Staff in this group are Officer III, Support Staff III, Operator III, and Attendant III. They get a monthly salary of Ksh. 13,530 to Ksh. 14,610.
Job Group B2: The new salary scale is Ksh. 15,670 to Ksh. 17,570 per month
This group classifies skilled and lower-level supervisory staff. For example, it classifies staff such as Artisan III, Driver II, and Cleaning Supervisor. The new salary scale for Job Group B2 is Ksh. 15,670 to Ksh. 17,570 per month. In the new job structure, group B1 was extracted from group E.
Job group B3: The new salary scale is Ksh. 21,500 and Ksh. 28,970 per month
Formerly, Job Group F classifies employees who make automatic decisions; this includes staff such as Artisan II, Driver I, and the cleaning supervisor. This group now gets a basic monthly salary of between Ksh. 21,500 and Ksh. 28,970, up from their old salary scale of Sh16,777 and Sh20,972.
Job group B4: The new salary scale is Ksh. 22,270–Ksh. 30,020 per month
Formerly group G, employees in this group consist of skilled personnel that make discretionary decisions. They include Clerical Officer I, Driver I, Technicians, Senior Driver, Artisan I, and Certificate Candre’s entry. It is also designated as the new entry grade for all tutors at the primary level. The new salary for this group is between Ksh. 22,270 and Ksh. 30,020 per month, up from Sh19,859 and Sh24,823.
Job group B5: The new salary scale is Ksh. 25,470–Ksh. 33,950 per month
Formerly known as Job Group H, civil servants in this capacity are mostly top executives and senior specialists who make discretionary decisions. Members of this group include Senior Clerical Officer I and Chief Driver. Therefore, the new salary scale for job group B5 or job group H is between Ksh. 25,470 and Ksh. 33,950 per month, up from Sh23,176 and Sh28,970.
Job group C1: The new salary scale is Ksh. 31,270–Ksh. 41,260 per month
Formerly known as job groups J and H, civil servants in this capacity are not highly skilled but get paid well. Public servants in this group are classified as technically and academically qualified( entry grade for graduates with professional qualifications); they include Officer II. Therefore, the new salary scale for job group C1 or job group J is between Ksh. 31,270 and Ksh. 41,260 per month, up from Sh28,970 and Sh39,110.
Job group C2: The new salary scale is Ksh. 38,270–Ksh. 51,170 per month
Formerly, it was Job Group K. This group consists of technically skilled public servants and academically qualified (entry-grade) graduates with professional qualifications. Members of the state officers in this group are registered clinical officers I. Therefore, the new salary scale for job group C2 or job group K is between Ksh. 38,270 and Ksh. 51,170 per month, up from Sh36,411 and Sh47,373.
Job group C3: The new salary scale is Ksh. 42,970–Ksh. 59,120 per month
Formerly, it was job group L. Employees in this group are classified as technically skilled and academically qualified personnel; they include senior officers and secondary school teachers who are also under job group L or C3. Therefore, the new salary scale for job group C3 or job group L is between Ksh. 42,970 and Ksh. 59,120 per month, up from Sh41,770 and Sh57,900.
Job group C4: The new salary scale is Ksh. 49,000–Ksh. 68,165 per month
Formerly, it was job group M. Civil servants in this capacity are classified as experienced specialists and junior managers; according to Standard.co.ke, they have a bit of working experience and higher academic qualifications. Such staff include Senior Master IV, Special Need Education Senior Teacher (for primary schools), Senior Lecturer IV, Deputy Head Educator II, and Special Need Education Teacher I (for secondary schools).
The new salary scale for job group C4 or job group M is between Ksh. 49,000 and Ksh. 68,165 per month, up from 47,780 and Sh57,900. However, according to the Tuko.co.ke report, the salary for this group is still Ksh. 47,780.
Job Group C5: The new salary scale is Ksh. 56,370–Ksh. 87,360 per month
Formerly, it was job group N. Public servants in this grade are classified as experienced specialists and junior managers. This group holds a significant share of Kenya’s skilled workforce. Civil servants in this category include principal officers: Senior Master III, Deputy Principal IV, Senior Lecturer III, Deputy Head Teacher, Head Educator, and Curriculum Support Officer II
The new salary scale for job group C5 or job group N is between Ksh. 56,370 and Ksh. 87,360 per month, up from Sh64,919 and Sh81,148. However, according to the Tuko.co.ke report, the salary for this group is still Ksh. 55,150.
Job Group D1: The new salary scale is Ksh. 87,360–Ksh. 121,430 per month
Formerly, it was job group P. They are classified as interpretive decision-makers and heads of sub-sections. According to Standard.co.ke, most employees in this job group are in entry-level management positions. Positions held under this group are assistant directors, for instance, positions like Deputy Principal III, Senior Master II, Senior Lecturer II, Curriculum Support Officer I, and Senior Head Educator.
The new salary scale for job group D1 or job group P is between Ksh. 87,360 and Ksh. 121,430 per month, up from Sh81,148 to Sh109,550. However, according to the Tuko.co.ke report, the salary for this group is still Ksh. 85,110.
Job group D2: The new salary scale is Ksh. 99,900–Ksh. 133,870 per month
Formerly, it was job group Q. Workers in this grade are classified as senior managers and functional heads; they include senior assistant directors and deputy directors. In TSC, they are categorized under T-scale 12 and include Senior Master I and Deputy Principal II.
The new salary scale for job group D2 or job group Q is between Ksh.99,900 and Ksh. 133,870 per month, up from a scale of Sh97,184 to Sh130,226. However, according to the Tuko.co.ke report, the salary for this group is still Ksh. 98,500.
Job Group D3: The new salary scale is Ksh. 121,430–Ksh. 169,140 per month
Formerly, it was job group R. This group classifies civil workers as senior managers and functional heads. For instance, public servants in the education department under TSC classify this grade as T-Scale 13, which comprises Deputy Principal I and Principals.
The new salary scale for job group D3 or job group R is between Ksh. 121,430 and Ksh. 169,140 per month, up from a scale of Sh114,334–Sh152,064. However, according to the Tuko.co.ke report, the salary for this group is still Ksh. 119,730.
Job Group D4: The new salary scale is Ksh. 133,870–Ksh. 197,800 per month
Formerly, it was job group S. This group classifies civil workers as executives or top managers. According to Standard.co.ke, professionals in this group, mostly in middle- or high-level management, are highly skilled. However, public servants in the education department under TSC classify this job grade as T-Scale 14, which comprises senior principals.
The new salary scale for job group D4 or job group S is between Ksh. 133,870 and Ksh. 197,800 per month, up from a scale of Sh132,178 and Sh174,425. However, according to the Tuko.co.ke report, the salary for this group is still Ksh. 132,000.
Job Group D5: The new salary scale is Ksh. 150,202 and Ksh. 198,267 per month
Formerly, it was job group T. This group classifies civil workers as executives or top managers. These individuals are among the top earners in Kenya. However, public servants in the education department under TSC classify this job grade as T-Scale 15, which comprises chief principals.
The new salary scale for job group D5 or job group T is between Ksh. 150,202 and Ksh. 198,267 per month. However, according to the Tuko.co.ke report, the salary for this group is still Ksh. 166,780.
Job group E1: Earn between Ksh 198,267 and Ksh 257,747 per month.
This is the third-highest group in the new SRC Kenya job group grading system. Under job grade E1, employees earn between Ksh 198,267 and Ksh 257,747 per month.
Job group E2: New salary scale of between Ksh. 221,508 and Ksh. 282,954
Public workers in job group E2 are the second-highest-paid, with a new salary scale of between Ksh. 221,508 and Ksh. 282,954. The position requires a high level of experience.
Job group E4: Basic salary range of Ksh. 292,765 and Ksh. 576,120
For Job Group E4, civil servants in capacity get a basic salary range of Ksh. 292,765 and Ksh. 576,120. The job group has highly skilled and specialized personnel, mostly in high-level management positions, with a high level of education and matching working experience. These individuals are usually heads of public service.
Job groups in Kenya: Allowances
Apart from the SRC setting and reviewing job groups and their salaries in Kenya, they also have the mandate to set and adjust civil servant allowances. According to the SRC, public servants are categorized into three clusters; for instance, there is cluster 1, cluster 2, cluster 3, and finally cluster 4. Let us discuss each cluster and its compensations based on what SRC provides.
What allowances do civil servants in Cluster 1 receive?
Who are these cluster 1 workers? According to Tuko.co.ke’s definition, Cluster 1 consists of employees working in Nairobi. Therefore, employees working in Nairobi receive a much higher allowance rate than those in other areas because of the higher cost of living in places like Nairobi.
So what are the allowances for cluster 1?
1. House allowances for Cluster 1 job groups in Kenya
All civil personnel in Kenya are entitled to a home allowance based on their designated job groups and salaries. This sum is given each month to offset the expense of living in a specific location. The location affects the amount.
| Group | Cluster 1 House Allowance |
|---|---|
| A to C | KES 3,750 |
| D | KES 4,125 |
| E and F | KES 4,500 |
| G and H | KES 6,750 |
| J | KES 10,000 |
| K | KES 16,500 |
| L and M | KES 28,000 |
| N | KES 35,000 |
| P and Q | KES 45,000 |
| R | KES 50,000 |
| S | KES 60,000 |
| T | KES 80,000 |
2. What are the per diem rates in Kenya for cluster 1 civil servants?
According to Wikipedia, per diem, derived from the Latin term ‘by the day,’ denotes daily allowances provided to employees during work-related trips, covering expenses like lodging, meals, and incidentals. It can also describe a compensation method where employees are paid on a daily basis rather than receiving bimonthly salaries.
Per diem payments benefit employees with frequent travel, covering expenses like accommodations, meals, and transportation, reducing annual business costs. In February 2022, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) updated the per diem rates for civil servants in Kenya, with the changes taking effect on February 2, 2022. These per-diem rates are categorized into clusters for different purposes.
Cluster 1 rates are applicable to government employees traveling on official business to select cities in Kenya, which include Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa, and Nakuru.
| Job Groups | State Officer Grades | Per Diem Rates (Ksh) |
|---|---|---|
| A to E | 4,200 | |
| F to J | 6,300 | |
| K to N | State Officer Grade D4 | 11,200 |
| P to R | State Officer Grades E2, E1, and D5 | 14,000 |
| S to T | State Officer Grades E3 and E4 | 16,800 |
| U to V | State Officer Grades F1, F2, and E5 | 18,200 |
| State Officer Grade F4 | 22,000 |
What allowances do civil servants in Cluster 2 receive?
Who are these cluster 2 workers? This covers civil servants working in the county headquarters of Kisumu, Nakuru, Mombasa, Malindi, Lamu, Kwale, Kilifi, and Naivasha.
1. House allowances for Cluster 2 job groups in Kenya
| Job Groups | Cluster 2 House Allowance |
|---|---|
| A to C | KES 3,125 |
| D | KES 3,375 |
| E and F | KES 3,730 |
| G and H | KES 4,500 |
| J | KES 7,500 |
| K | KES 12,800 |
| L and M | KES 22,000 |
| N | KES 25,500 |
| P and Q | KES 28,000 |
| R | KES 35,000 |
| S | KES 56,000 |
| T | – |
2. What are the per diem rates in Kenya for cluster 2 civil servants?
Cluster 2 per diem allowances are issued when civil servants visit county headquarters, Malindi, and Naivasha for work-related reasons. These rates are:
| Job Groups | State Officers Grades | Per Diem Rate (Ksh) |
|---|---|---|
| A to E | 3,500 | |
| F to J | 4,900 | |
| K to N | State Officer Grade D4 | 8,400 |
| P to R | State Officer Grades E2, E1, and D5 | 10,500 |
| S to T | State Officer Grades E3 and E4 | 12,600 |
| U to V | State Officer Grades F1, F2, and E5 | 14,600 |
| State Officer Grade F4 | 18,000 |
What allowances do civil servants in Cluster 3 receive?
So who are these cluster 3 workers? These are civil servants working in the county headquarters of Nyeri, Machakos, Eldoret, Kericho, Kisii, Kakamega, Lodwar, Embu, Nanyuki, and Garissa.
1. House allowances for Cluster 3 job groups in Kenya
| Job Groups | Cluster 3 House Allowance |
|---|---|
| A to C | KES 2,500 |
| D | KES 2,750 |
| E and F | KES 2,960(E)/3000(F) |
| G and H | KES 3,850 |
| J | KES 5,800 |
| K | KES 9,600 |
| L and M | KES 16,500 |
| N | KES 18,000 |
| P and Q | KES 21,000 |
| R | KES 25,000 |
| S | KES 52,000 |
| T | – |
2. What are the per diem rates in Kenya for cluster 3 civil servants?
Cluster 3 per diem allowances are provided to government employees during work-related visits to all other parts of the country except those listed in Clusters 1 and 2.
| Job Groups | State Officers Grades | Per Diem Rates (in Ksh) |
|---|---|---|
| A to E | 3,000 | |
| F to J | 4,200 | |
| K to N | State Officer Grade D4 | 7,000 |
| P to R | State Officer Grades E2, E1, and D5 | 8,400 |
| S to T | State Officer Grades E3 and E4 | 10,500 |
| U to V | State Officer Grades F1, F2, and E5 | 12,500 |
| State Officer Grade F4 | 14,000 |
What allowances do civil servants in Cluster 4 receive?
Allowances for cluster 4 cover all other areas in Kenya that are not included in clusters 1, 2, and 3.
House allowances for Cluster 4 job groups in Kenya
| Job Groups | Cluster 4 House Allowance |
|---|---|
| A to C | KES 2,250 |
| D | KES 2,375 |
| E and F | KES 2,700 |
| G and H | KES 3,200 |
| J | KES 7,500 |
| K | KES 12,800 |
| L and M | KES 22,000 |
| N | KES 25,500 |
| P and Q | KES 28,000 |
| R | KES 35,000 |
| S | KES 56,000 |
| T | – |
Other allowances for job groups in Kenya include:
Hardship Allowances for civil servants living in Hardship areas
In Kenya, a hardship allowance is a form of financial assistance provided to civil servants facing difficult circumstances that make it hard for them to make ends meet. For instance, hardship compensation is provided to government employees working in hardship zones. There are 38 gazetted hardship areas in Kenya that are characterized by a lack of essential services, such as clean water, electricity, and health care facilities.
According to TeachersUpdates.com, the following is a list of all gazetted hardship areas in Kenya:
- Garissa County
- Isiolo County
- Kwale County
- Lamu County
- Mandera County
- Marsabit County
- Samburu County
- Taita Taveta County
- Tana River County
- Turkana County
- Wajir County
- West Pokot County
- Baringo County (Baringo North, Tiaty East, Tiaty West, and Marigat sub-counties)
- Homa Bay County (Suba and Mbita sub-counties)
- Kajiado County (Mashuuru, Loitoktok, and Kajiado West sub-counties)
- Kilifi County (Magarini and Ganze sub-counties)
- Kitui County (Mumoni, Mutito North, and Tseikuru Sub-Counties)
- Narok County (Narok South and Narok North sub-counties)
In December 2014, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) made a significant change to the hardship allowance payment system. Previously, this allowance was calculated as a percentage of the basic pay for different job grades. However, the SRC’s review resulted in a new, simplified approach: a flat rate for hardship allowance across all equivalent grades and job groups, effectively eliminating the previous practice of linking it to basic pay percentages.
Here is a list of all hardship allowances reviewed and submitted by SRC:
| Job Groups | Monthly Hardship Allowances |
|---|---|
| A | Ksh. 2,800 |
| B | Ksh. 3,000 |
| C | Ksh. 3,000 |
| D | Ksh. 3,300 |
| E | Ksh. 3,700 |
| F | Ksh. 4,300 |
| G | Ksh. 5,700 |
| H | Ksh. 6,600 |
| J | Ksh. 8,200 |
| K | Ksh. 10,900 |
| L | Ksh. 12,300 |
| M | Ksh. 14,650 |
| N | Ksh. 17,100 |
| P | Ksh. 27,300 |
| Q | Ksh. 31,500 |
| R | Ksh. 38,100 |
| S | Ksh. 45,000 |
| T | Ksh. 60,000 |
For civil servants in the education department, we have the following allowance, according to the TSC report:
Responsibility allowance is provided to headteachers, deputy headteachers, and senior teachers in Job Group K and below.
Special Duty allowance is applicable to teachers below Job Group M who are appointed to administrative roles by the Commission and deployed in arid and semi-arid lands.
Readers allowance is granted to visually impaired teachers who employ a reader with a minimum qualification of KCSE D+ or KCE Division III. The allowance rate is determined by the commission and is subject to change.
An interpreter allowance is given to deaf teachers who utilize interpreters during their study leave.
Special School Allowance is given to teachers specializing in special needs education and assigned to teach in special schools or units.
Transfer allowances are provided to teachers when the Commission initiates their transfer from one district to another.