The Salaries and Remuneration Commission is an independent constitutional Commission established under the Salaries & Remuneration Commission Act, 2011, with broad mandate to set out, harmonise and determine all matters relating to pay and perks for all state officers.

It is for this reason that it has one of the largest memberships with Commissioners representing a wide spectrum of society and industry and are led by the remarkable Sarah Serem.

On the landmark date of October 7, 2012, the commission declared the scandalously huge exit package the Tenth Parliament awarded themselves as being illegal and warned it would move the courts to block it. In quick succession, the commission made extensive research on the levels of pay offered other MPs around the world. The commission also factored in the level of development, the gross domestic product, the weight of the National Debt, the general election and the hefty wage bill expected to weigh down on county and national governments at the onset of devolved government. 

The SRC compared salaries for legislators from as near as Tanzania and Rwanda and as far afield as the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia. The findings informed the new salary structure released on February 5th of this year and had significant cuts. And therein lies the mustard seed from which MPs have dramatised their reduced net worth.

But let us step back a little. The commissioners are heavyweights in their own right, seasoned professionals representing sectors that drive this economy. There is no reason to doubt the sincerity or competence of Mr Daniel Ogutu for Public Service Commission, Sellestine Kiuluku for Judicial Service Commission, Serah Kinyua for the TSC, Brig (rtd) Samuel Ndururi for the Defence Council.

What about Isaiah Kubai representing Cotu, Joseph Kinyua representing the Cabinet Secretary (Finance), Titus Ndambuki representing the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Wanjuki Muchemi for the AG, Jacqueline Mugo for Employers, Ann Elizabeth Owuor representing Association of Professional Societies in East Africa, Peter Oloo-Aringo for the Parliamentary Service Commission, and Jason Namasake for the Senate?

Are MPs saying these Kenyans are incompetent to “inquire into and determine the salaries and remuneration to be paid out of public funds to State officers and other public officers”?

On this we shall disagree with our honourable MPs.