From left: Governors Moses Akaranga (Vihiga), Baringo’s Benjamin Cheboi, Transitional Authority chair Kinuthia Wamwangi and Finance Minister Njeru Githae. Photo/File
Governors on Thursday blocked the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) from addressing their induction forum in protest against “low salaries.’”
The governors were incensed by failure by SRC chairperson Sarah Serem to appear before them for the second day in a row to explain the rationale behind setting salaries for governors, MPs, and senators. The commission had sent the vice chairperson Daniel Ogutu to address the 47 governors and their deputies.
Led by Kisumu governor Jack Ranguma, James Ongwae (Kisii) and Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega), the county leaders blocked Mr Ogutu’s attempt to address the forum organised by the Transitional Authority at the Great Rift Valley Lodge in Naivasha.
“We want to have the chairperson herself,” said Mr Oparanya.
Ms Serem had earlier been scheduled to make a presentation and answer questions on Wednesday afternoon.
SRC pegged the governor’s salary at Sh640, 681, that of their deputies at Sh461, 250 and that of county assembly representatives at Sh79, 200. The salary for MPs is Sh532,500 down from Sh851,000 in the tenth Parliament.
The governors said the amounts were far below what they earned in their previous positions. Governor’s Oparanya, Peter Munya (Meru) and Ken Lusaka (Bungoma) said the amount was not commensurate with their work.
“SRC should have implemented the Akiwumi report which proposed a monthly pay of Sh1.1 million for legislators. I see legislators soliciting for money to make ends meet. MPs can be easily bought to back government agenda and it will make corruption rampant,” said Mr Oparanya in an interview.
Mr Munya said the salary of county assembly members would be Sh50,000 after tax.
“This will make them run around doing other businesses because what they earn cannot sustain them,” he said.
The governors on Tuesday stormed out of the Naivasha meeting shortly after President Kibaki opened it accusing officers of dictating how the Sh9.8 billion for county operations for the next three months should be spent.
