Wamuzi News Ke
A catastrophic audit has exposed that at least 47,300 government employees are receiving less than one-third of their gross salaries—well below the legal minimum—following aggressive tax and levy deductions.
The Auditor General’s findings mark a major blow to President William Ruto’s fiscal reforms.
Deductions in Breach of Law.
Widespread deductions — including PAYE, housing levy, and premiums to the newly formed Social Health Authority (SHA) — have pushed tens of thousands of civil servants into net pay below the statutory minimum. Under the Employment Act, employees must take home at least 33% of their basic salary, a threshold now routinely violated.
Police and Uniformed Forces Most Affected.
Among the hardest hit are public safety personnel:
36,660 police officers, 3,815 officers in the Interior Ministry, 2,535 Kenya Prisons Service officers, 1,275 immigration officers.
These figures highlight a systemic breakdown that has stripped basic dignity from essential personnel.
Government Response Under Fire.
The deductions follow Ruto administration’s push to raise revenue in the face of shrinking budgets. Yet critics argue the scheme is poorly planned. Economists claim low morale, poor performance, and rising default rates on public debt stem from underpaid staff who cannot depend on net wages.
Kitui Central MP Makali Mulu pointed blame at hastily introduced statutory contributions: “These deductions come midway through the year and exceed two-thirds of salaries… we have never factored inflation into our wage reviews.”
Political Fallout Brewing.
Opposition figures such as Kalonzo Musyoka and impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua have seized on the crisis to drive their “Okoa Payslip” campaign. They accuse the government of siphoning up to 50% of earned wages into unjustified levies. Gachagua vowed: “We will restore dignity to the payslip.”
Why It Matters.
Legal breach: Statutory pay rules violated across multiple ministries.
Worsening public sector morale: Staff earning far below living wages.
Economic ripple: Debt and loan defaults may rise as paychecks shrink.
Political risk: Public dissatisfaction now fueling opposition narratives.
