Transport boost for civil servants

All junior and middle level civil servants will receive an increase in commuter allowance of up to three times next month.

The government on Monday released details showing that the majority of the 215,000 civil servants will start enjoying the new commuter allowances of between Sh3,000 and Sh14,000 per month from July 1.

According to a circular by Public Service ministry permanent secretary Titus Ndambuki, staff between job groups A and F will receive Sh3,000 per month.

Currently, staff in those cadres receive Sh1,100 as commuter allowance. Those in job groups G to J will have their allowances revised upwards from Sh1,400 to Sh4,000 per month.

Those in job group K and L will have their commuter allowance going up from Sh1,800 to Sh5,000 and Sh6,000 respectively.

Workers in job group M and N will have their allowances go up from Sh2,500 to Sh8,000. Staff in job group P will enjoy the second highest increase from Sh3,600 and 12,000.

The job group to benefit the highest from the new increment will be staff in job group Q. They will have their allowances raised from Sh3,600 to Sh14,000.

The increment is the second phase of the allowances that were introduced for the first time in July last year.

During the first phase, the workers were given commuter allowances of between Sh1,100 and Sh3,600.

This represented an increment of 36 per cent. The new increment represents the remaining balance of 64 per cent.

“In line with the government commitment to improve terms and conditions of service for its employees, funding has been approved for payment for the final phase of the commuter allowance with effect from July 1, 2011,” Mr Ndambuki said.

Mr Ndambuki said only officers who were not provided with house-to-office transport would be eligible for commuter allowance,” Mr Ndambuki.

He warned any officer who is found to be receiving both benefits will be treated as enjoying an irregular benefit and will be liable for disciplinary action.

Mr Ndambuki’s circular was copied to the Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura and the Auditor-General’s office. It was sent to all permanent secretaries.

The latest increment follows negotiations with the Union of Kenya Civil Servants seeking the allocation of the allowances to the government workers.

Public Service minister Dalmas Otieno said the second and final payment would amount to Sh3.6 billion.

The government approved payment of commuter allowance for all civil servants in 2006 following the development of a Transport Policy.

The civil servants’ commuter allowances has been implemented soon after the government released a circular freezing salaries of civil servants, teachers and parastatal workers.

The commuter allowance was not affected because their agreement was signed before August 27 last year, when the new constitution came into effect.

In the freeze order, Mr Muthaura said all salaries and allowances determined after August 27, 2010 when the new constitution was effected would not be honoured until the formation of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission in line with the new constitution, the he said.