Uhuru backs SRC move to cut pay for State officers

President Kenyatta has said he fully supports the latest efforts by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission to tame the ballooning public wage bill.

The president on Tuesday said slashing salaries and scrapping some fat allowances would ensure prudent use of public resources.

SH8 BILLION

He called on Kenyans to support and cooperate with the commission as it seeks to save Kenya over Sh8 billion a year.

The president, the highest-paid civil servant, is among State officers whose pay was hit in the new pay structure.

The Head of State’s monthly pay was reduced by Sh206,250 to Sh1,443,750 from Sh1,650,000 in the changes that will take effect after the August 8 General Election.

In the new structure, salaries paid to all ranks of elected leaders — including elected representatives at the national and county levels — will also be fixed for their term.

They will not be increased every year as is currently the case.

NEW TERM

The changes also affect appointed State officers such as Cabinet secretaries, principal secretaries, the Attorney-General, the Chief of the Defence Forces, military service commanders and heads of the police.

Heads and members of full-time constitutional commissions — including the electoral agency, Auditor-General and the Controller of Budget — will also have to grapple with reduced salaries.

The SRC move has been received with mixed reactions across the country.

The Vihiga chapter Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry has also welcomed the new salary structures for state officers.

The chamber, however, challenged the SRC to also come clear on remuneration for members of various commissions.

The chamber, led by its Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Vukaya, described the new salary structures as economy-friendly.

"We are happy with the new structures," said Mr Vukaya at a briefing held in Mbale on Tuesday.

52 PER CENT

Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba also applauded the new measures.

Mr Namwamba said the motivation behind the proposals was long overdue since the country's public wage ratio is unequal between high and low earners.

The wage bill, he said, was inherently unsustainable at 52 per cent of GDP, consuming huge resources thereby stifling development.

“The measures announced by SRC are therefore a giant step towards our long cherished dream of equity and sustainability in the public wage structure.

“I particularly applaud the proposal to scrap off sitting allowances for all salaried Public Servants and State Officers, including Members of Parliament, as well as limitations and stricter controls over mileage claims and travelling allowances,” he said in a statement.

Reports by John Ngirachu, Derrick Luvega and Gaitano Pessa.