Proposed salary package to resolve squabbles over the pecking order

Prime Minister Raila Odinga is set to earn a higher salary than the Vice President if proposals by a tribunal set up to review their perks are implemented.

The tribunal led by retired judge Akilano Akiwumi has proposed that the salary of the PM be reviewed upwards from the current Sh1.3 million to Sh1.67 million per month.

However, the salary of Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka will remain at Sh1.31 million per month.

This means that if the proposals are implemented, the PM will now earn Sh360,000 more than the VP.

The decision by the tribunal will come as a major boost to the PM, who had in recent times been squabbling over who was the most senior government official after President Kibaki.

This is expected to be the first major step towards resolving the pecking order issue that had at one time threatened the unity of the government.

The tribunal, in making its decision, argued that despite the fact that the VP was “the principle assistant” to the President, “his political standing was still lower than that of the PM.”

Read the report in part: “Therefore the emolument of the Prime Minister is very important in the coalition Government on the basis of the agreement of the partnership between President Kibaki and PM Odinga, who are the two principals.”

It went on: “The majority of the presenters said the Prime Minister should be paid well above the Vice President and slightly below the President.”

The PM’s position was established by the national accord and reconciliation Act No 4 of 2008, which came about due to the disputed election of 2007.

The National Accord and Reconciliation Act, which was signed to law on February 28, 2008 states that the PM and his deputies shall be entitled to salaries and allowances, benefits, privileges and emoluments as may be approved by Parliament from time to time.

Mr Odinga, as the supervisor and coordinator of government activities, chairs Cabinet sub-committees and enjoys enhanced security, including several chase cars.

However, when the PM’s position was created, his emoluments and other trappings were not discussed by Parliament.

According to the proposals seen by the Nation, Mr Odinga will earn a taxable basic salary of Sh630,000, extraneous duty allowance of Sh320,000, an entertainment allowance of Sh320,000, a constituency allowance of Sh150,000 and a parliamentary responsibility allowance of Sh250,000.

On the other hand, the tribunal has proposed that the VP, who according to the constitution, is the President’s assistant, should earn a monthly taxable salary of Sh450,000.

Over and above that, his parliamentary responsibility allowance has been set at Sh250,000 the same as that of the PM, extraneous duty allowance at Sh230,000, the same also applies to his entertainment allowance, and a constituency allowance of Sh150,000.

The issue of the salaries of the two individuals had become a political hot potato, especially when the head of public service, Mr Francis Muthaura, directed that their pay be equal.

Incensed supporters

Mr Muthaura had proposed that the PM’s and VP’s salary be Sh1.3 million — Sh800,000 salary, Sh300,000 ministerial allowance and Sh200,000 as house allowance.

However, this did not go down well with some of Mr Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement supporters who were incensed by Mr Muthaura’s proposal to equate the Prime Minister’s office with that of the Vice-President.