Senators hit out at county governments over hiring

Senate Committee on Finance chairman Billow Kerrow and SRC chairperson Sarah Serem during the workshop on Public Sector Remuneration in Naivasha. [Photo: Antony Gitonga/Standard]

Senators have accused governors of flouting guidelines issued by the Transition Authority (TA) and Salaries and Remuneration Communication (SRC) on recruitment of county employees.

The legislators yesterday advised County Public Service Boards (CPSB) to work independently of the county executive while hiring employees to avoid having a bloated workforce.

They also urged SRC to urgently review the salaries and benefits of public servants and address the disparities in remuneration.

They further censured the county governments over continued recruitment of staff to non-existing positions, which inflates the wage bill and threatens the country’s economy.

WHAT RATIONALE

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Billow Kerrow (Mandera) took issue with the salaries attached to some non-existent jobs, which disadvantages others with better qualifications in other sectors.

“A governor’s personal assistant or speech writer earns close to Sh400,000 while you may find a managing director of a company earning Sh150,000. What is the rationale in coming up with these salaries, yet the commission issued a circular on the salary scale and job jobs?” he asked.

He continued: “A job evaluation should be done by SRC to establish their rationale and demand. Some jobs are completely unnecessary and cost taxpayers dearly.”

Senators Kerrow, Wilfred Machage (Migori), Mutula Kilonzo Junior (Makueni), Wilfred Lesan (Bomet), Halima Fatma, Catherine Mukiite and Naisula Lesuuda, all nominated, stressed that for counties economy to grow, their recurrent expenditure must be managed.

more pay

The lawmakers expressed concern that qualified personnel in other departments like health, infrastructure and agriculture feel unappreciated due the to the kind of pay they receive.

“Officers attached to the governors’ office appear to get more pay than engineers and doctors, whose jobs are also demanding. The recruiting body should not overlook the guidelines approved by the constitutional bodies,” said Kerrow.

“The CPSB and SRC should undertake their responsibilities as stipulated in law. The Government can set aside Sh4 billion for remuneration and benefits in the public sector,” he suggested.

The senators were speaking during a consultative meeting on the draft Remuneration and Benefits Policy, which seeks to streamline the public sector and manage the country’s wage.

But SRC Chairperson Sarah Serem, while acknowledging the issues raised by the senators, explained salaries, even in other parts of the world, cannot be equal in all job grades.

“The output of employees is also not the same despite falling in the same job group. There is also a dilemma because salaries cannot be reviewed downwards,” said Serem.

She however promised to try to harmonise the public sector remuneration.

Already the commission has undertaken a two-day training exercise in Naivasha for the Public Service Commission on job evaluation.