In a significant move announced on Monday, October 02, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has revealed its intention to discontinue several allowances provided to state officers.
This new directive from the SRC is expected to have far-reaching implications, impacting civil servants across various Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
Among the allowances set to be terminated are the plenary sitting allowance, ministerial allowance, and the taxable car allowance.
Additionally, the list also includes the retreat allowance, as well as sitting allowances for institutional internal committees and committee taskforce allowances.
An official at the SRC confirmed that these six allowances have already ceased to be payable.
This development comes against the backdrop of a previous standoff in August 2022 when Members of Parliament threatened to disband the SRC.
Their grievance stemmed from the commission’s proposal to abolish the plenary sitting allowance for MPs and Members of the County Assembly (MCAs).
The MPs argued that this move would significantly impact their income, as they receive allowances for a minimum of four sittings per week.
‘Double’ compensation?
According to an SRC circular issued in August 2023, the retreat allowance is typically granted to public officers who are involved in special assignments requiring them to develop and produce policy documents outside their regular workplaces.
SRC justified the elimination of this allowance by asserting that an individual’s capabilities are assessed during the recruitment process, rendering additional allowances that do not provide value for taxpayer money unnecessary.
Furthermore, SRC contended that paying a sitting allowance to Members of the Institutional Internal Committee in addition to their basic salaries equated to double compensation.
“Internal institution taskforces are constituted to execute the mandate of the institution,” the SRC stated.
In June 2023, President William Ruto called upon the SRC to explore measures for reducing the salaries of high-ranking state officers, aiming to curb the country’s escalating wage bill.
