On Thursday, March 16, President William Ruto increased the number of Chief Administrative Secretaries (CASs) from the initial 23 set by his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta to 50 in a move that has shocked the country.
Should the National Assembly approve the list, Kenyans will cough up to Ksh460 million annually in salaries which will total to Ksh2.3billion in five years.
According to the Public Service Commission (PSC), CASs are entitled to a monthly salary of Ksh765,138, a house allowance of ksh200,00 and KSH100,000 entertainment allowance.
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PSC places the CASs under the position of Cabinet Secretaries (CS) but are above Principal Secretaries (PS) in the execution of their duties.
Both the CASs and PSs are entitled to a Ksh35 million mortgage. The only difference is in the car grant where CASs get Ksh10 million and while the PSs get Ksh8 million in turn.
According to the Daily Nation, when calculated over a duration of five years, the mortgage and car grant of both CASs and PSs will cost taxpayers Ksh2.5 billion in a one-off payment over a period of five years.
Additionally, Kenyans will pay Ksh10 million inpatient and Ksh3 million outpatient medical cover for each CASs.
The shortlisted CASs are also entitled to two top of the range vehicles, a driver, two secretaries and an unspecified number of security personnel who will move around with him or her and others who will guard their urban and rural homes.
The cost of funding the office of the CASs comes at a time when the Kenya Kwanza government is supposed to borrow ksh700 billion to fund the 2023-2024 budget.
According to the National Assembly’s Budgetary Committee, Kenya’s budget for this year’s fiscal year will amount to Ksh 3.6 trillion.
In the budget, the National Government has been awarded Ksh 2.1 trillion while the Devolved Government is set to receive Ksh385 billion.
Members of Parliament have set aside Ksh 9 million for the National Government – Constitutional Development Fund (NG-CDF) which will amount to Ksh 53 billion.
Women Representatives in the National Assembly will receive Ksh 1 billion for the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF).
Parliament will receive Ksh44 billion while the Judiciary will get Ksh 44 billion. The Judiciary in turn is set to get Ksh22.9 billion.
The Council of Governors will receive Ksh385 billion and Ksh 4.5 billion for the purchase of hospital equipment.
