MPs, officers may earn less in new grades

By Luke Anami

Members of Parliament could earn less next year than what they are getting today if an ongoing exercise by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission to determine the value of State job holders comes to that conclusion.

In essence, Kenya’s fourth President could earn less than what President Kibaki is paid. This is a departure from the past practice where Parliament fixed their own pay, as well as determined pay for other public jobs. This time round, the SRC will take charge.

State officers include the President, Deputy President, Cabinet Secretaries, who replace ministers, AG, MPs, senators, governors, secretary to the Cabinet, Chief Justice, judges, and magistrates, among others, as defined in Article 260 of the Constitution.

The Akiwumi Commission made proposals for MPs’ pay. But SRC will now determine new pay structure for all State officers, including new offices such as those of governors.

Already, the SRC has commissioned a Job Evaluation, which will determine the value of a job, identify job descriptions for MPs, governors, senators, among others, and establish their Job Group or grade such a position would hold.

PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) is evaluating, with technical support of the World Bank.

“The exercise is in the final stages and we expect that some salaries may go up while others may reduce,” Chairperson of SRC, Sarah Serem, said in an interview with The Standard.

“The World Bank is also assisting us in the exercise and we will soon be releasing the figures likely before the year ends,” she added.

highest paid

Currently, Kenyan MPs are among the highest paid legislators in the world. They take home Sh851,000 per month as salary and allowances. A Kenyan MP’s pay is the highest in the Commonwealth and even supersedes what a member of the House of Common in the UK is earning. Kenyan public wants it reduced by half and to not be exempt from tax as over 60 per cent of Kenyans live below the poverty line.

There are 42 ministries and about 100 assistant ministers – the largest Cabinet since independence.

Those serving as ministers earn an extra Sh200,000 per month in allowances while assistant minister get Sh100,000 per month.

Reduce salaries

Though the actual SRC figures are not yet officially out, the public expects the MPs’ pay shall reduce by almost half to Sh500,000 per month.

“ The World Bank will complement our work and expect the report to be out as soon as possible. However, we cannot put a specific figure as to what an MP shall earn right now,” Daniel Ogutu, Vice Chairman of SRC said. He added: “We would like to determine salaries in a scientific way, which is professional and defensible. Their pay (MPs) could be more or less.”

Though retiring early next year, President Kibaki currently earns a basic monthly salary of Sh2 million, making him one of the highest paid presidents in the world.

In addition to his monthly pay, President Kibaki also takes home about Sh1.2 million in benefits bringing the total to Sh3.1 million while Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka both earn about Sh1.8 million in salary and allowances. The Speaker of the National Assembly earns Sh1.5 million per month.

Permanent secretaries take home a minimum salary of Sh213,640 and a maximum of Sh423,280 a month as well as another Sh80,000 and Sh75,000 as entertainment and extraneous allowances. But ‘super PSs take home Sh800,000, an indication of the huge salary disparities within the same Job group.

“Following the introduction of the National and County governments, the president’s role has been reduced and it is likely that when the job is subjected to a scientific job evaluation process, he or she could earn less than Sh2.2 million.” Isaiah Kubai, a commercial lawyer and workers representative on the commission said.