Prisons officers to earn more if proposals pass

By Cyrus Ombati

The Prisons Department stands to benefit from proposals to double salaries of the police force if ongoing talks between Government and the department bear fruit.

Top officials from the department, Directorate of Personnel Department and Office of the President met on Thursday as part of the plans to ensure warders also benefit.

Sources said the meeting was called after head of Public Service Francis Muthaura agreed to an earlier request by Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka to include warders in part of the proposed police reforms.

Kalonzo singled out salaries and asked that prison officers benefit from proposed salary scales that will see police double their pay in two years, beginning July.

Permanent Secretary Titus Ndambuki led the meeting at the Office of the President that was also attended by officials from the Public Service Commission.

Transforming thousands

The VP said prison officers do a great job in transforming thousands of prisoners in the country before sending them back to the society, hence the need for their recognition.

Prison warders went on strike last year when they were locked out of various allowances and paralysed operations at the institutions.

A taskforce report proposed far reaching reforms that will see police officers earn double their salaries in two years.

In the new structure a constable would earn a basic salary of Sh37,000 from Sh18,000, corporal Sh42,000 from Sh22,000 and a sergeant Sh46,000 from the current Sh28,000.

An inspector’s basic salary should increase from Sh35,000 to Sh98,000, chief inspector from Sh41,000 to Sh112,00, superintendent from Sh42,000 to Sh125,000, SSP from Sh57,000 to Sh140,000 and ACP from Sh64,000 to Sh164,000.

Others are SACP from Sh74,000 to Sh170,000, DCP from Sh110,000 to Sh202,000, SDCP from Sh141,000 to Sh250,000, commandant from Sh349,000 to Sh562,000 and commissioner from Sh356,000 to Sh622,000.

Meanwhile, Internal Security Minister George Saitoti said at the weekend police will get their Sh400 million salary arrears at the end of the month.

The money was supposed to be released by end of January, but Treasury failed to do so.