The Public Service Commission (PSC) is seeking an additional Sh3.3 billion in funding from the government to address chronic understaffing and an ageing workforce, where more than half of its employees are expected to retire within the next five years.
The extra funding will help the commission fill critical staffing gaps and execute its expanded mandates, which now cover oversight of more than 585 ministries, departments and agencies.
Outgoing PSC Chairperson Ambassador Anthony Muchiri highlighted in his exit report that persistent underfunding, averaging 46 percent of the Commission’s actual needs, threatens to paralyse its operations. He noted that these budgetary constraints severely limit staffing levels, implementation of key programmes, regional appeals hearings and capacity-building activities.
“For instance, in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, the commission had a staffing gap of 217 employees, operating with only 274 staff, representing 56 percent of its approved establishment. Although the current financial year shows a reduced gap of 138 employees, without adequate budgets for new recruitments, this gap is unlikely to improve and will continue to impact performance and service delivery," said Mr Muchiri.
He added that the commission’s ageing workforce, with 52 percent of staff projected to retire within five years, further strains its ability to manage its expanding workload, including recruitment and oversight functions for TVET institutions and public universities.
Despite an increase in absolute financial allocations from the exchequer, Mr Muchiri said the commission remains severely underfunded.
In the 2023/24 financial year, PSC faced a financing deficit of Sh1.94 billion, representing 35 percent of its required resources.
In the current financial year ending June 30, 2026, the Commission received Sh3.62 billion—still Sh3.14 billion short of its funding requirement.
“The funding gap has major adverse effects on our ability to deliver on the PSC’s expanded mandate,” he said.
The report also highlighted that PSC faces a high volume of litigation, which diverts significant human and financial resources.
The Public Service Commission (PSC) head office at Commission House in Nairobi.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
In 2023/24 alone, 122 new cases were filed challenging the Commission’s recruitment, promotions, and disciplinary decisions, causing delays in implementing key functions.
To address these challenges, Mr Muchiri recommended that PSC seek Parliamentary intervention to gradually increase its budget by 50 percent over two financial years, equivalent to approximately Sh980 million per year.
He further stressed the urgent need for emergency funding to modernise the Commission’s ICT systems, enhance digital service delivery, strengthen cybersecurity and support data-driven decision-making. Additionally, PSC requires Sh50 million annually to acquire extra office space to accommodate staff currently working in shared and congested offices.
For the long term, the Commission plans to request a development budget of Sh800 million to construct a new office block within the Harambee House Compound.
Alternatively, it would consider the allocation of a suitable government parcel for the development of the new office.
