The Salaries and Remuneration Commission has rescinded its decision to increase the salaries of state officers after sharp criticisms from both the officers and Kenyans
Commission chairperson Lyn Mengich said following consultations with the Treasury it will freeze the review in line with the recent budget cuts and the ongoing conversation of cutting the country’s wage bill
Speaking after President William Ruto directed the treasury to review the review, Mengich has also clarified that the salary increase has not been newly gazetted as reported as it was set and published in August last year.
“This review came after a two-year freeze on pay structures for the period 2021-22 and 2022-23, on account of the impact of Covid-19 on the economy,” the chairperson stated.
Mengich also noted that the review was part of the Third Remuneration and Benefits Review cycle for state and other public Officers that was to be implemented over the 2023-24 and 2024-25 financial years.
According to the notice, the pay of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, all 22 Cabinet Secretaries, the Attorney General, the Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet would rise to Sh990,000 each from Sh957,000.
Both the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Senate are set to receive Sh1,208,362 from Sh1,185,327, Sh40 million mortgage, Sh25,000 airtime and official residence.
Principal Secretaries are also set to benefit with their salaries set to rise to Sh819,844 from the initial Sh752,519.
Both the Majority and Minority leaders are set to walk home with Sh800,019 from the previous Sh784,768.
Additionally, Members of Parliament and Senate will receive a pay rise from the initial Sh725,502 to 739,600.
Parliamentary committees are also set to receive a revised sitting allowance of Sh7,500 per sitting, Sh35 million mortgage allowance, Sh356,525 for vehicle maintenance and Sh15,000 for airtime.
Governors’ pay has also been adjusted from Sh957,000 to Sh990,000 with their deputies set to receive Sh684,233 from Sh652,742 while MCAs are set to receive Sh164,588 from Sh154,481.
The upward salary review has elicited sharp rejection from a section of the public latest from the The Council of Governors who alsoSRC to withdraw the proposed salary increments for all county state officers including; governors, deputy governors and county executive committee members in light of the withdrawn Finance Bill 2024.
In a statement the Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria argued that the pay raises would be unsustainable if upto 900,000 public servants from both levels of government consume Sh1.1 trillion annually.
According to Kuria the amount is equivalent to 47 per cent of national revenues, leaving the rest of 54 million Kenyans with 53 per cent, with debt servicing and development to cater for, among other expenditures.