President Uhuru Kenyatta tells public officers to drop pay demands

President Uhuru Kenyatta has told public officers agitating for more pay to drop their demands.

He instead told MPs and County Representatives to concentrate on serving Kenyans.

"Rather than seeking more salaries, let us look at how we can serve the people of Kenya," said President Kenyatta during the burial ceremony of Mutula Kilonzo in Mbooni, Makueni County Thursday.

Newly-elected public officers have complained that their salaries are "demeaning" and in the case of MPs threatened to disband the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) for reducing their pay.

The SRC has powers to determine the pay of public officers.

For instance, it has pegged MPs pay at Sh532,500 down from Sh851,000 which members of the Tenth Parliament earned.

On Thursday, President Kenyatta told the leaders to work towards achieving tangible results before demanding for a pay raise.

On Wednesday, 13 county assemblies adjourned sittings in the process crippling local government operations, in what appears a coordinated move to force a pay raise for county representatives.

Nairobi, Mombasa, Baringo, Kitui, Kericho, Siaya, Kakamega, Migori, Kisii, Meru, Kirinyaga and Nakuru county assemblies did not sit.

The County Assembly members are demanding a salary of Sh300,000, up from Sh79,200.

They also want Sh3 million in car allowance and other perks enjoyed by members of the National Assembly and Senators.