Salaries team rejects MPs' demand for higher pay

The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has shrugged off pressure to raise public salaries, setting stage for further confrontation with politicians even as it leaves room for future pay reviews.

The SRC chairperson Sarah Serem said the Sh458 billion (50.4 per cent of projected 2013/14 revenue collection) currently paid to about 700,000 public servants was unsustainable for a government that has set to achieve between seven and 10 per cent growth.

“This level of pay to just 1.6 per cent of total population is not only huge but also stands in the way of the government to implement its development agenda.” Mrs Serem said at a press briefing in Nairobi.

Mrs Serem’s Commission has been under fire from politicians since it gazetted new salary guidelines for public officers in March 1, 20013. Under the new salaries, a member of the eleventh parliament is entitled to a basic salary of Sh543,000, down from the Sh851,000 of the tenth parliament.

The county representatives are entitled to Sh79,000 in basic salaries. These figures are the highest compared to what other countries in the region pay their workers, the SRC team said.

The politicians have rejected the salary scales with MPs led by Igembe South legislator Mithika Linturi threatening to remove the salaries team out of office.

(Read: MP files petition for removal of SRC members)

The county representatives also boycotted sessions last week in a bid to force the SRC to review its stand. However, the team stood its ground on Monday.

“We are an independent body and our mandate is to maintain a sustainable wage level for the country, not to pay attention to threats and intimidation,” she said.

Last year, the country recorded a modest growth of 4.7 per cent. Mrs Serem noted that the government was still falling below its revenue target, something that implied belt-tightening fiscal policy.

The team however pledged to hold dialogue with key stakeholders once the economy improves.