Pesa Mashinani: Kenya Civil Servants Travel Allowance

The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has streamlined the pay for government workers and state officers who are sent out of their stations for official duties.

The Kenya Civil Servants Travel Allowances (daily subsistence allowance) is based on foreign countries clusters and local zonation of Kenya. In general, the local travel allowance ranges from a maximum of KShs. 18,200 for public servants in job group U and V to a minimum of KShs. 2,100 for civil servants in job group A-E.

The allowance is paid on a daily basis. The towns that attract the highest allowances are Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Malindi, Kilifi, Naivasha, Kwale and Lamu.

Different parts of Kenya have been placed into 3 clusters. The clusters are;

Cluster 1.
Cluster 2.
Cluster 3.

Cluster 1: Cluster 1 constitutes the towns which attract the highest travel allowance. The towns are; Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Malindi, Kilifi, Naivasha, Kwale and Lamu. So in order to earn the allowance from towns in Cluster 1, you should be working in towns/ areas other than the once in this cluster. For example, you could be working in Migori County and you are sent to Nairobi for official duties then you will earn as per Cluster 1.

Cluster 2: Cluster 2 attracts the 2^nd highest subsistence allowance after the 1^st cluster. This cluster is composed of the following 10 towns; Eldoret, Nyeri, Kericho, Kisii, Kakamega, Embu, Nanyuki, Turkana, Nakuru and Garissa. If you are stationed in Nairobi and you are send on official duties to Kakamega, for instance, then you will be paid based on Cluster 2 and not Cluster 1.

Cluster 3: The third cluster attracts the lowest travel allowance. Actually, most civil servants will find themselves travelling to areas in the third cluster. The third cluster is for “All other towns.” So, for example, if you travel to Kitui County then you are travelling to a town in cluster 3. If you are travelling to Isiolo then you are heading to a town/ area in cluster 3.

So let us look at these towns in details per job group.

Job Group H Travel Allowance

If you are in Job Group H then you are entitled to earn KShs. 6,300 if you travel to towns/ areas in Cluster 1. You will earn KShs. 3,500 and KShs. 2,100 if you travel to towns/ areas in Cluster 2 and Cluster 3 Respectively.

Job Group K Travel Allowance

A civil servant in Job Group K is entitled to an allowance of KShs. 11,200 per day if he/she travel to areas in Cluster 1. The civil servant will earn KShs. 8,400 and KShs. 7,000 per day if he/she travels to areas in Cluster 2 and Cluster 3 respectively. The travel allowance rates for Job Group K are similar to those of Job Group L and Job Group M.

Job Group P Travel Allowance

In line with the increasing responsibilities in this Job Group, a civil servant in Job Group P will earn KShs. 14,000 if he/she travels to a town/ area in Cluster 1. The worker will earn KShs. 10,500 and KShs. 8,400 if he/she travels to a town/ area in Cluster 2 and Cluster 3 respectively. The travel allowance rates for Job Group P are similar to those of Job Group Q and Job Group R.

The foreign travel allowance for Kenya civil servants are paid daily in US Dollars. The rates are highest in North America (Canada, USA, ), Europe, Australia and the Carribean countries.

Job Group P Foreign Travel Allowance

If you are in Job Group P or Job Group Q or Job Group R then you will earn $452 per day in Canada and $462 per day in USA as travel allowance.

In Europe, you will be paid $481 per day in United Kingdom, $465 in Sweden, $513 in Spain, $391 in Portugal, $354 in Norway, $438 in the Netherlands, $549 in Italy, $517 in France and $ 504 in Germany.

If you travel to the Middle East then you will earn $396 per day in Qatar and $553 in United Arab Emirates.

If you travel to South Africa then you will earn $300 per day. $435 in Ethiopia, $442 in DRC Congo, $314 in Burundi, $332 in Tanzania, $335 in Uganda and $328 in Rwanda.