Nairobi, May 29 -- The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) declined a Sh2.82 billion worth of requests for increased pay by civil servants in the three months that ended March as the country battles a wage bill crisis.

SRC disclosed that it received 65 requests from the public sector ranging from collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) and allowances and instead approved requests worth Sh411.4 million.

The disclosures reveal the continued agitation for higher pay by civil servants in a bid to ease the impact of the high cost of living, a push that has, however, led to confrontations between the SRC and worker's unions.

"SRC approved requests worth Sh411.4 million, against the 65 requests from public institutions amounting to Sh3...