Anti-graft agency now wants staff paid more

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission wants the salaries of its members and staff increased.

In a letter to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) on February 18, the EACC says enhanced salaries will boost the morale of its staff, and thus its efficiency.

In the letter, EACC chief executive Halakhe Waqo cited the sensitivity of their work and the risks they face as some of the justifications for the increase.

The EACC’s current salary structure has been in place since 2005, which is why, he said, it is unable to attract the professionals it needs. This has also led to a high turnover of staff.

“Over the last one year, the commission has lost some of its best lawyers and other professionals who have joined the Judiciary, Police Oversight Commission, Lands Commission and your commission, that have more attractive packages,” Mr Waqo said in a letter addressed to SRC secretary Anne Gitau. 

He said a number of EACC staff leave after acquiring skills and experience, disrupting ongoing investigations.

“The result has been low staff morale, a heavy workload and lack of ability to attract qualified people,” added Mr Waqo.

He told the Justice and Legal Affairs committee last Wednesday that when the commission recently tried to recruit legal officers, quantity surveyors, land surveyors and valuation officers, they attracted less than 10 per cent of those they wanted.

“The commission feels that if the terms of remuneration are enhanced in line with our proposal, it would go a long way in addressing the perennial problem of staff capacity,” he said in his presentation to the committee.

45 PER CENT INCREMENT

The EACC proposed that the salaries of its commissioners be increased by an average 45 per cent, from Sh485,000 to Sh705,000 for the chairman, Sh420,000 to Sh615,000 for the vice-chairman and Sh395,000 to Sh565,000 for members.

The increase would come from a new risk allowance of Sh200,000 for the chairman, Sh175,000 for the vice-chairman and Sh150,000 for members, plus an increase in their commuter allowances from Sh30,000 to Sh50,000 a month.

Staff salaries would go up by up to 150 per cent for those in the top tier such as directors and deputy directors, who serve on contracts, while the lowest-paid staff on permanent terms would have their salary tripled.  

These increases would come from new entertainment, risk, responsibility, domestic and non-practising allowances as well as an increase in house and transport allowances. 

The rest of the staff remuneration would remain the same under the proposed structure: a retainer of Sh325,000 for the chairman and Sh275,000 for the vice-chairman.