Many Kenyans dream of landing a public sector job, and for good reason. These jobs offer great benefits like job security, health insurance, and a retirement package.
One such opportunity is with the Kenya Prisons Service, which provides these perks to its employees. But how much do wardens earn?
Understanding the Kenya Prisons salary scale is key to knowing the financial rewards that come with this position.
If you’re curious about what a warden makes in 2025, this guide will break it down for you. Let’s explore the numbers behind Kenya Prisons’ salaries.
The SRC, responsible for setting and reviewing the salaries of all state officers, regulates the wages of government employees, including those in the Kenya Prisons Service. This update ensures fairer compensation for wardens across the country.
Exploring Kenya Prions Salary Scale
Prison wardens in Kenya, ranging from job groups F to N, now earn between KES 16,890 and KES 55,110 per month. This adjustment follows a 2020 government decision to raise Kenya Prisons wages.
The new salary scale, implemented by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), led to a pay increase of 6% to 19%, aligning prison pay with the National Police Service (NPS).
Under the updated system, the Commissioner General (CG) falls under pay Grade 14 and job Group U, while the Deputy Commissioner General (DCG) is in pay Grade 13 and job Group T.
Since the government introduced a new salary scale for the prison service, several changes have taken place. Below is a breakdown of the updated salary scale along with the Kenya Prisons ranks.
| Position | Pay Grade | Job Group | Salary (KES) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commissioner General of Prisons | 14 | U | N/A |
| Deputy Commissioner General | 13 | T | 166,780 |
| Senior Assistant Commissioner General | 12 | S | 132,000 |
| Assistant Commissioner General | 11 | R | 119,730 |
| Deputy Commissioner | 10 | Q | 98,500 |
| Assistant Commissioner | 9 | P | 85,110 |
| Senior Superintendent of Prisons | 8 | N | 55,110 |
| Superintendent | 7 | M | 47,780 |
| Chief Inspector | 6 | L | 41,770 |
| Inspector | 5 | K | 37,070 |
| Senior Sergeant | 4 | J | 30,170 |
| Sergeant | 3 | H | 24,580 |
| Corporal | 2 | G | 21,500 |
| Constable | 1 | F | 16,890 |
| Kenya Prisons Cadets | 5 | K | 40,000 |
Allowances
The Salaries and Remuneration Commission ensures all civil servants, including prison officers, receive housing allowances to cover housing costs based on their location.
The amount varies by region. Civil servants in Cluster 1, such as those working in Nairobi, receive the highest housing allowance.
Cluster 2 includes those in county headquarters like Kisumu, Mombasa, and Nakuru, who receive the second-highest allowance.
Cluster 3 covers areas like Nyeri, Eldoret, and Kisii, with a slightly lower allowance. Cluster 4 includes all other regions not in the first three clusters.
Prison officers receive allowances based on their rank, location, and duties, including general allowances like house, risk, and commuter allowances.
There are also specific allowances for hardship, transfers, and acting roles, depending on the officer’s duties and region.
She also noted that certain allowances vary based on region or duty, including hardship allowance, transfer allowance, and acting allowance.
Promotion Criteria within Kenya Prisons
Kenya Prisons promotions are based on merit, experience, qualifications, and discipline. Officers must serve a certain number of years before they can qualify for promotion.
Those with excellent records, good conduct, and high performance are given priority. Educational qualifications, recommendations from supervisors, and completion of special training or courses can also speed up the promotion process.
Each promotion comes with a salary increment, and allowances such as house, commuter, and risk allowances also increase with rank.
Kenya Prisons Salary Scale, Special Packages and Awards
Kenya Prisons offers special packages, awards, and monetary incentives to wardens who show exemplary performance.
These rewards aim to motivate officers, recognize outstanding service, and boost morale. However, the availability and consistency of these awards depend on government funding and internal policies.
These incentives may include monetary awards, promotions, career growth opportunities, welfare support, scholarships, and state commendations or medals.
Key requirements for joining Kenya Prisons Service
Here are the requirements to join the Kenya Prisons Service:
- Must be a Kenyan citizen.
- Should have a valid National Identification Card.
- Should not have a criminal record.
- Must be aged between 18 to 30 years for diploma/certificate/degree holders.
- Must be aged between 18 to 32 years for medical consultants.
- Should be at least 5’4″ tall for men and 5’2″ tall for women.
- Should be physically and medically fit.
- Must have good hearing and clear vision.
- Female candidates must not be pregnant during recruitment and the entire training period.
