The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has proposed a pay increase for the president and other state officers starting on July 1.
The proposal, according to SRC, aims to mitigate the impact of high inflation and rising living costs on these officials.
If approved, President Ruto’s monthly gross remuneration package will increase by 7.1% from July 2023 to Sh1,546,875. From July 2023, it will again rise by a further 6.7% to Sh1,650,000.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s compensation will rise to Sh1,367,438 from July 1, 2023, and reach Sh1,402,500 by the end of the two years, reflecting a cumulative 14.3% increase.
Cabinet Secretaries will also see their remuneration rise by a similar margin. Their pay will rise to Sh1,056,000 per month from July 2024, up from the current Sh924,000.
MPs, including senators, will experience an 8.3% cumulative wage increase over the two financial years. Their earnings will be Sh741,003 and Sh769,201 in the upcoming years, compared to the current Sh710,000.
However, the proposed revision does not include committee sitting allowances, which are capped at Sh120,000 per month.
Governors’ compensation will increase comparably to the President’s. Their monthly gross pay will rise to Sh1,056,000 by July 2024 from the current Sh924,000.
Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) will also receive a 14% increase. They will be earning Sh164,588 in a little over a year from the present Sh144,375.
Other state officers, such as principal secretaries, the Chief Justice, the Deputy Chief Justice, the Auditor-General, judges, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Inspector-General of Police, and chairpersons of key commissions, are also expected to receive a pay raise.
The proposed changes to state officers’ compensation will also include allowances and benefits. These include as car loans, mortgage benefits, pensions, and medical insurance. The SRC has invited public comments on these proposals before issuing a gazette notice to enact the new salaries.
The SRC has acknowledged that the growing wage bill has been crowding out resources for development and service delivery. The current wage bill to total revenue ratio has exceeded the recommended threshold.
The SRC has been working to contain the escalating wage bill by rejecting salary reviews and requests for allowances and benefits from public institutions. The proposed pay raise for state officers contrasts with the wage stagnation experienced by private sector workers, whose 5.6% increase in 2022 has been eroded by inflation.
Inflation has remained high, driven by increased food and fuel costs, prompting the Central Bank of Kenya to raise the benchmark lending rate to its highest level in nearly seven years as a countermeasure.
