Kenya Power and Kenya Railways Corporation accounted for most casual workers employed in the public sector in 2023, making up 80.3 percent of temporary hires.
A report by the Public Service Commission (PSC) revealed that out of 84,609 casual workers engaged last year, state corporations and semi-autonomous government agencies (SAGAs) hired 76,925, representing 90.9 percent of the total. Public universities and TVET institutions employed 4,807 (5.7 percent) and 1,367 (1.6 percent), respectively.
Kenya Power led with 53,436 casual hires (63.42 percent), while Kenya Railways employed 14,465 (17.17 percent). The findings also showed inconsistencies in reported data, with some institutions listing casual workers despite claiming not to have hired any.
The PSC highlighted concerns over salary payments made outside official payroll systems, affecting over 2,000 workers. The commission urged government bodies to comply with a court ruling requiring the use of contracted service providers instead of casual labour.