Public servants could soon have their pay tied to productivity if the proposed National Productivity and Performance Bill, 2026, is enacted, with government officials arguing the move would improve service delivery and boost Kenya’s competitiveness.
During a public participation forum held in Eldoret on October 22, stakeholders discussed the benefits of anchoring public sector remuneration on measurable performance and productivity.
Kenya’s productivity level compared to other African countries
Speaking at the forum, Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) Vice Chairperson Dr Gilda Odera said Kenya’s productivity levels remain below expectations, noting that the country ranks 27th out of 54 African nations in productivity.
She said the proposed National Productivity and Performance Bill seeks to address the gap between expected performance and actual output by integrating productivity indicators into the performance contracting framework for public servants and state officers.
According to Dr Odera, the law would give greater weight to performance targets, requiring public officers to demonstrate measurable results. She argued that improved accountability would help Kenya climb the continental productivity rankings and strengthen the efficiency of public institutions.
“Kenya is ranked 27th out of 54 countries in Africa in terms of productivity, and the reason we’re ranked low is that our capability is much more than what we’re delivering,” said Dr Odera.
“This proposed National Productivity and Performance Bill 2026 will anchor productivity in the performance contracting of public servants and state officers so that there is weight to it. Each state officer will have to deliver based on that, and Kenya will start seeing itself improving in terms of productivity numbers,” she added.
Why Kenya’s private sector performs better than public sector
Deputy County Commissioner in charge of Ainabkoi sub-county Henry Rono backed the proposal, describing it as a transformative reform that could change how public service performance is measured and rewarded.
He noted that, unlike the private sector where compensation is often linked to output, the public service has lacked a legal framework that directly connects remuneration to productivity.
“Civil servants have lacked a law that will marry productivity and pay. It is no longer business as usual. If there is a law where one is paid based on productivity, it will be a game changer,” said Rono.
The DCC said the legislation would encourage a culture of accountability and discourage absenteeism and poor performance in government offices.
“When this law is implemented, service delivery will improve in the public service. One should be paid based on productivity and not simply report to the office and disappear without delivering services to wananchi,” he said.
Similar sentiments were shared by Jua Kali Association’s North Rift Region Coordinator Richard Opar, who urged Kenyans and stakeholders to actively participate in discussions around the Bill.
Opar said the reforms could help unlock higher productivity across the economy.
“We encourage this Bill to be implemented and for discussions around it to take centre stage because it will help Kenya increase productivity,” he added.
If passed, the National Productivity and Performance Bill, 2026 is expected to introduce a new framework for assessing public sector performance, with remuneration increasingly tied to results, efficiency and service delivery outcomes.
