Nairobi, May 26 -- Spending on salaries and wages jumped by Sh140.6 billion in the nine months ending March 2026, underlining a reversal of the government's austerity drive and exposing growing pressure from an expanding public payroll despite deepening fiscal strain.

Fresh Treasury data shows the national government's expenditure on salaries and wages rose to Sh576.7 billion in the July 2025-March period from Sh436.1 billion a year earlier, a steep 32.24 percent jump.

The increase marks the fastest growth in the Exchequer-funded payroll since the onset of restrictions on new recruitment except for essential sectors more than a decade ago, and signals a shift from the spending restraint adopted after the 2024 Gen Z-led protests against ...