Prison, security officers to receive salary hikes this month

Prison and security officers in Kenya are set to receive their first salary increase, following a proposal made by a task force last year.

While presiding over the swearing-in ceremony of the new Kenya Prisons Service Commissioner General Patrick Mwiti, President William Ruto announced that the salary increase will take effect in August. 

The 40 percent salary hike is part of the recommendations made by the Maraga-led task force in 2023.

“As a commitment I made to our men in uniform, we will be enhancing the salaries of our policemen and our prison officers. This month they will receive their first installment of the salary increase, along with other security agencies,” Ruto said.

The task force report recommended salary increases for officers in the National Police Service (NPS), National Youth Service (NYS), and Kenya Prisons Service.

Currently, the least paid police officer, a Constable, earns Sh32,880, while a Corporal earns Sh42,660 per month. The Inspector General, the highest-paid officer in the Police Service, receives Sh852,241 monthly, and his senior assistant earns Sh274,890. Other ranks, from Sergeant to Commissioner of Police, earn between Sh45,000 and Sh130,000 each month.

In his address, Ruto also highlighted several reforms aimed at ensuring proper management of correctional services. He urged the new Commissioner General Mwiti to ensure the effective continuation of the ongoing food production process at prisons.

“A few thousand hectares of land under the prisons are now used for food production. I expect you to ensure that every arable piece of land under the prison service is utilised for food production to supply food to the prison service and, by extension, to the country,” he said.

Ruto also expressed the government’s commitment to ensuring that the prison service has decent housing and continues its tree-planting program to contribute to important national activities.

He welcomed the new prisons boss, who has taken over from Brigadier (Rtd) John Warioba, who has since proceeded on terminal leave.