The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) is on the receiving end for increasing salaries for top State officers amid a push to tame the ballooning wage bill.
The move by the commission has sparked outrage in the wake of protests by the young people demanding accountability and a stop to government wastage including reduction of Members of Parliaments’ salaries and allowances.
The pay hikes for Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and Members of Parliament among others took effect on July 1.
“Monthly remuneration structure for state officers in the Executive of the government will be implemented in the financial year 2024/25 with effect from July 1, 2024,” the commission said in a Gazette Notice dated August 9, 2023.
Senators have questioned the rationale of increasing salaries for Members of Parliament terming it insensitive.
The Senators led by Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot called on the house to come up with a resolution to reject the salary increment saying the move contradicts the current fiscal health of the nation.
The Senate is debating a special motion tabled by Cheruiyot to discuss the State of the Nation in light of the ongoing demonstrations.
A section of leaders has expressed similar sentiments with Azimio la Umoja coalition calling on its members to reject the pay rise.
“We note with concern the intention to divert public attention from the real issue by giving an increase in salary to senior state officials at a time the country is not doing well financially. We ask our members to reject the salary increment” Azimio co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka said during a presser.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Mwingi West MP Charles Nguna have rejected the Ksh14,000 salary increment.
Sifuna on X said he did not ask for it. “SRC is proposing to add me 14k on my salary. I didn’t ask for it. I don’t need it. It’s still money, in a country where many have no income, but for perspective, I pay close to 300k in income tax every month. I will not fight for 14k extra when the whole country is saying we need to lessen taxpayer burden. I don’t want this 14k. Ikae” he said.
Nguna said the money can be used to pay the national debt while former nominated Senator Millicent Omanga termed the move by SRC a betrayal.
“It’s a betrayal to Kenyans for salaries & other benefits of state officers to be increased at this point in time when there’s agitation for the same to be reduced. We can’t always take Kenyans for fools. Reduce, not increase. That’s what Kenyans are demanding”, she said.
