Several Members of Parliament (MPs) have rejected the Salary Remuneration Commission’s (SRC) proposal to increase salaries for state officials.
According to a Gazette Notice from the SRC dated August 9, 2023, state officers were set to receive salary and benefit increments starting July 1, 2024.
“The 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,” read part of the notice.
New salaries for MPs and Senators will be Ksh739,600 from the past Ksh725,502. Leaders of the Majority and Minority in both houses will benefit from an increment of Ksh15,251 earning 800,019 from Ksh784,768.
Parliamentary committees are also set to receive a revised sitting allowance of Sh7,500 per sitting, along with a Sh35 million mortgage allowance, Ksh356,525 for vehicle maintenance, and Ksh15,000 for airtime.
MPs Oppose Salary Increment for State Officials
Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot was among the lawmakers who have since questioned the SRC for its silence on the issue of MPs and other State Official earning higher salaries.
Cheruiyot while speaking in a Senate proceeding on July 3 stated that MPs must resolve to reject the move given the current financial situation in the country.
“If it means taking a pay cut, we as members of parliament have been told that we will never do it. We don’t have an option; we must do it…. I saw the yearly increase that is being discussed, I saw it being reported or misreported that we are now going to earn more; SRC continues to be silent about it,” he said.
“We don’t have an option; we must do it. I saw the yearly increase being discussed, and it was reported or misreported that we will now earn more. The SRC remains silent about it,” he said.
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In a statement on X, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna said that he will still not accept any increment on his 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,” he wrote.
“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 (let it be).”
More Lawmakers Reject Salary Hikes
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino on his part opined that MPs and other state officers should not add even a single coin.
“It is sad to increase salary while Kenyans have no jobs, Kenyans have no capital to start businesses, Kenyans have no money to pay school fees, No money for medication. Say NO to salary increment,” he posted on his X account.
Additionally, Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, on the other hand, termed the salary increment as a “scandalous” proposal by the SRC.
“It is not right just as it is scandalous for SRC to imagine increasing the pay of State Officers. This Commission needs to be serious!” Kaluma said.
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Aldai MP Marianne Kitany firmly opposed the proposed salary increase stating that the immediate concern should be the welfare of the nation and its citizens, ensuring stability and sustainable progress.
“Given the current state of affairs in our country and with the ongoing demonstrations and economic instability, in my view, this is not the right time to prioritize any salary hikes for public officials. If anything, we should be having a discussion on salary reduction but not hikes,” she remarked.
Echoing their sentiment was Busia Women Representative Catherine Omanyo who said that pay raises when the economy is performing poorly adding that she did not ask for more pay.
She urged the government to avoid burdening Kenyans with loans and excessive taxes for salary increments.
Other Officials Receiving Increased Pay
Also, SRC proposes pay hikes of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, all 22 Cabinet Secretaries, the Attorney General, the Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet would rise to Ksh990,000 each from Ksh957,000.
Both the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Senate are set to receive Ksh1,208,362 from Ksh1,185,327, Ksh40 million mortgage, Ksh25,000 airtime and official residence.
Principal Secretaries are also set to benefit with their salaries set to rise to Ksh819,844 from the initial Ksh752,519.
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