Civil Servant Salary in Kenya by Grade: New CSG Pay Scale 2025

Updated 17 October 2026

Civil servants in Kenya’s national government got a new basic salary structure in December 2025, backdated to 1 July 2025. The Salaries and Remuneration Commission approved it at its 691st meeting on 19 December 2025 as Phase I of the fourth remuneration review cycle, which runs from 2025 to 2029. This page sets out the basic salary range and leave allowance for each Civil Service Grade (CSG), explains how the grades relate to the old job group letters, and has a take-home pay calculator already set to each grade.

Civil Service Basic Salary by Grade, From 1 July 2025

Each grade has a range. You start at the bottom point and move up with annual increments. The figures are monthly basic salary before allowances and deductions.

Figures as reported by The Kenya Times in January 2026 from the SRC’s approval letter; the SRC has not yet published the circular on its website.

The same approval reviewed the annual leave allowance. It was reported as KES 140,600 a year for CSG 4 and KES 120,000 for CSG 5. For the other grades it was reported only as ranges covering several grades at once, from KES 3,000 at the lowest grades to KES 35,000 in the middle grades, so check your letter of appointment or payslip for your exact amount.

Grades and Job Groups

The civil service now uses CSG numbers, where a lower number means a more senior grade. Many officers still refer to the older job group letters. The Ministry of Health’s published documents give some of the matches: CSG 11 is Job Group J, CSG 10 is Job Group K and CSG 9 is Job Group L. Medical officer interns, for example, are employed at CSG 9, Job Group L. Your appointment letter states both where they apply.

Who This Structure Covers

The structure applies to civil servants in the national government: ministries and state departments. It does not automatically cover county government staff, teachers employed by the TSC, the disciplined services or state corporations, which have their own scales. Teachers can use the TSC salary calculator, police officers can see police salary in Kenya, and county health workers can see nurse salary in Kenya or clinical officer salary in Kenya.

Allowances on Top of Basic Pay

Basic salary is only one part of a civil servant’s pay. House allowance depends on where you work: Cluster 1 is Nairobi, Cluster 2 covers Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Nyeri, Eldoret, Thika, Kisii, Malindi and Kitale municipalities, and Cluster 3 is everywhere else. Commuter allowance is also paid, and the new structure includes a salary market adjustment. Add these to your basic salary to get your gross pay before you use the calculator.

Civil Servant Take-Home Pay Calculator

Choose a grade to load the bottom of its basic salary range, then add your allowances to the amount for a full estimate. The calculator deducts NSSF, SHIF at 2.75%, the Affordable Housing Levy at 1.5% and PAYE after personal relief.

Pension contributions, union dues, Sacco savings and loan repayments are not included. Many civil servants borrow through check-off; the check-off loan calculator shows how much the two-thirds rule leaves you.

Applying for Government Jobs

The Public Service Commission advertises most national government posts, with the grade and salary scale stated in each advert. Current openings are listed on jobinkenya.co.ke, and the guide on how to apply for government jobs in Kenya covers the documents and clearances you will need. State officers such as Cabinet Secretaries are paid separately; see public salaries in Kenya.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the lowest civil servant salary in Kenya?

Grades CSG 15 to CSG 17 have a combined basic salary range of KES 18,700 to KES 26,250 a month from 1 July 2025.

When did the new salaries take effect?

From 1 July 2025. The SRC approved the structure on 19 December 2025 and backdated it to the start of the 2025/2026 financial year.

What does CSG 10 earn?

KES 43,200 to KES 59,010 basic a month, plus allowances.