President William Ruto’s recent nomination of seven new Principal Secretaries (PSs) has sparked criticism over the growing size of the Kenya Kwanza administration and its financial implications for taxpayers. The creation of seven new State Departments, including Public Investments and Assets Management, Aviation and Aerospace Development, and Children Welfare Services, has raised concerns about the escalating cost of governance in a country already grappling with underfunded public services.
Each PS comes with a hefty price tag. According to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), a PS earns a gross monthly salary of Ksh.792,519, amounting to Ksh.9.5 million annually. However, the financial burden extends far beyond salaries. PSs in key ministries like Interior, National Treasury, and Foreign Affairs receive a monthly responsibility allowance of Ksh.100,000, adding Ksh.1.2 million to their yearly earnings. Additionally, they are entitled to benefits such as official vehicles, comprehensive medical coverage, and life insurance worth three times their annual salary.
The perks don’t stop there. PSs enjoy privileged loan packages, including car loans of up to Ksh.8 million and mortgages of up to Ksh.35 million, both at a low interest rate of 3%. Upon retirement, they are entitled to a gratuity equivalent to 31% of their annual salary, which can amount to millions of shillings. When all these costs are combined, the government spends over Ksh.15 million annually on each PS.
With 51 PSs now in place, the total annual cost to taxpayers exceeds Ksh.765 million. This comes at a time when critical sectors like healthcare, education, and infrastructure remain underfunded. Critics argue that the expansion of the executive is unnecessary and places an unsustainable burden on Kenyans, many of whom are struggling with high living costs and unemployment.
While the government defends the move as essential for effective service delivery, the question remains: can Kenya afford such a bloated bureaucracy? As taxpayers shoulder the cost, the need for fiscal prudence and accountability in public appointments has never been more urgent.
