Nairobi, Sept. 11 -- Bonuses, pay increments and Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) cost the government Sh4.27 billion in the year ended June, amid a growing push by government workers for better remuneration.

The SRC disclosed that it approved salary increments, requests for bonuses and allowances and CBAs, which ballooned the wage bill-surpassing the Sh2.5 billion increase recorded in the previous financial year and exerting more pressure on the exchequer at a time the government is pushing a fiscal consolidation policy.

Analysis of the data shows that bonuses and rewards accounted for the biggest chunk at Sh1.43 billion (34 percent) that was paid in the last three months of the previous administration followed by salary reviews ...