Parliament, SRC conflict over salary review imminent

A parliamentary committee in session. PSC is backing the Parliamentary Service Bill sponsored by National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By  JOHN NGIRACHU

What you need to know:

  • Bill is sponsored by National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale.
  • The salaries, mileage and sitting allowances published in July 2017 are the subject of a court case.

The National Assembly and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission could be headed for another clash over an attempt by the Parliamentary Service Commission to bypass the agency in determining how its employees are paid.

PSC is backing the Parliamentary Service Bill sponsored by National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale and currently under consideration in the House.

The bill is one of PSC’s main priorities but it is understood to have raised concerns within the SRC, the institution with the mandate to set and review the remuneration and benefits of State officers.

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WINDOW

It states in one of its provisions: “The employees of the commission (PSC) shall be paid such remuneration and allowances as shall be determined by the commission.”

This clause is reported to have raised concerns at the SRC as it could be interpreted to be a way of opening a window for PSC to pay itself and its employees more than the set amounts.

It could also give PSC power to determine what allowances to pay and how much.

COURT CASE

PSC members are paid a sitting allowance of Sh40,000 per session while the SRC has set the rates for other allowances – Sh5,000 per MP for committee meetings as well allowances paid for travelling out of Nairobi.

The salaries, mileage and sitting allowances published in July 2017 are the subject of a court case after the PSC decided to sue the SRC rather than negotiate for higher pay for MPs like it did last time.

TRAVELLING

This opened the way for Parliament to give lawmakers Sh5 million each to buy cars as well as retaining the payment of mileage reimbursements.

Allowances for travelling are based on a circular issued by SRC in 2014.

They are applied to MPs and staff of the commission.

PROVISION

The PSC, however, determines how much its employees are paid, which is also maintained in the bill, that contains a provision for the commission to determine the terms and conditions of service for those working under the PSC.

With the bill now under scrutiny by the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, interested parties, including SRC, will have an opportunity to present their views.

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