In the latest harmonization,
Job group J house allowance rates have been increased by 67% in Nairobi and 40%
in other county headquarters.
House allowance in Nairobi
House allowance for job group J
has been increased from KSh. 6,000 to Ksh. 10,000 per month for Kenya civil
servants working in Nairobi. This represents a 67% increase in house allowance.
House allowance in County
Headquarters
Civil servants in Job group J
in the towns of Mombasa, Kisumu, Malindi, Kilifi, Lamu, Kwale and Naivasha will
earn a housing allowance of Ksh. 7,500 per month. Previously, civil servants in
Job Group N earned a house allowance of KSh. 4,500. This new rate represents a
67% increase in house allowance.
Civil servants in Job group J
in the towns of Nyeri, Eldoret, Kericho, Kakamega, Kisii, Embu, Nanyuki,
Nakuru, Lodwar and Garissa will earn a house allowance of KSh. 5,800 per month.
Previously, civil servants in this group earned a house allowance of KSh.
3,500. This represents a 66% increase in house allowance.
House Allowance in Other Areas
Civil servants in job group J in other county headquarters and other areas will earn a house allowance of
Ksh. 4,200 per month. Previously, the civil servants in this job group earned a
house allowance of KSh. 3,000. This represents a 40% increase in house
allowance.
Quality of living based on the
current house allowance
With Ksh. 4,200 a month as
house allowance for civil servant in Job group J who work in areas other than
the major cities and towns in Kenya, living in a single room is
inevitable. Unless civil servants in such areas device ways of living
in better houses (e.g., through cost sharing), then they are
bound to live in low class houses.
Remarks
Based
on house allowances for job group J, civil servants in this category can only
feel “okey.” Why feel okey?, well, just below this job group is job group H.
The house allowances in job group H are way below the normal cost of housing in
Kenya. The house allowances decrease significantly as you head towards job
group A.
Further reading