Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has taken action to avert any disruption in the public sector following threats by civil servants to stage a nationwide strike.

In a statement on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, CS Muturi has pledged to honour the second phase of its Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

The CS indicated that the National Treasury has allocated Ksh1.5 billion for the implementation of the CBA. This will be a relief to civil servants, as they will get their salary increase.

“We have made progress in implementing the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for the period 2021-2023, with the first phase fully realized in FY 2023/2024.

“The second phase, set to commence on 1st July 2024, is on track, thanks to the National Treasury’s approval of Ksh1.5 billion for its implementation,” the CS stated.

Engaging the Union

Further, CS Muturi assured the disgruntled civil servants that his ministry had convened a meeting with the Union of Kenya Civil Servants to listen to their demands.

He stated that the meeting would address the thorny areas and avert any possible cause of disruption in 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.

“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 noted.

He added, “Our aim is to foster a performance-driven culture that will not only boost productivity but also restore public confidence in our services.”

Plea to workers

After promising to honour the CBA, Muturi called on the Kenya Civil Service Union (KCSU) to withdraw the strike notice issued on Monday, September 2, 2024.

KCSU had threatened to down their tools by the end of this month should the government fail to fulfill all the terms reached in the CBA. As per the second phase of the CBA, civil servants were supposed to get a salary increase effective from July 1, 2024.

However, the workers representatives lamented over the government’s failure to honour the CBA agreement on increasing their salaries.