Salary increment for police unlikely, officials say

General Service Unit(GSU) Police mount a guard of honor during their pass-out parade in Embakasi Training School. This was on 01/03/2016.PHOTO BY PIUS CHERUIYOT

Police officers and prisons personnel are not likely to enjoy their long-awaited salary increment soon.

Top officials in the two services say there has been no agreement on the percentage on the proposed pay increment.

There was also no budget to cater for the proposal, even as an internal circular that went viral promised the officers an increment at the end of this month.

PENDING ISSUES

The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) said it was still waiting for an official communication from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) on the way forward.

"Talks on this issue are still on unless we agree and address pending issues, but we are optimistic," said NPSC Chairman Johnstone Kavuludi.

Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet said he is also eager to see his officers get the long-awaited increment. He said the police force deserves a pay rise just like other civil servants, who recently received an increment in their basic salaries

"I am also waiting and expecting the increment just like other civil servants. Let us wait," said Boinnet last week.

Kisumu Town East MP Shakeel Shabbir, who is also a member of National Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committee, confirmed that the Interior ministry had sought funds for a salary increment for police officers.

"The ministry sought a Sh14 billion vote. Though it was not itemised since the operations of the ministry are protected under the Secrecy Act, the late CS Nkaissery did pitch for a salary increment for the uniformed personnel," said Shabbir.

Curiously, no senior officer was willing to discuss the authenticity of the internal memo. According to the document, the 100 per cent increment was to be spread in four phases beginning the end of this month. 

"Accordingly, the new salary structure will be implemented in four equal phases starting July 1, 2017. It will apply to unformed personnel in the Kenya Police, Administration Police and Prisons Service who will be in service on or after July 1, 2017," said part of a memo sent to police officers.

SUSPICIOUS CIRCULAR

But officers now think the memo was meant to hoodwink them. "I have talked to a number of officers and they all doubt this circular. It could be out to hoodwink us ahead of the elections," said one senior officer.

Another high ranking official said they are anxiously waiting for their pay slips next week to know if the pledge is real. "The circular sounds suspicious and I think it is political. We will wait until the pay slip is out and give a clear indication on the way forward," said another officer.

The memo further said directions on allowances will be communicated when received.

The National Police Service has 12 job groups — from PG1 to PG12. On the other hand, the civil service has 19 pay scales. Constables, the lowest-ranked officers and who are the majority, are on scale PG1 while PG 12 caters for officers of the rank of senior assistant inspector-general.

 A constable gets an allowance of Sh7, 000, a corporal Sh7,800, a sergeant Sh8,540, a senior sergeant Sh9,000. An inspector draws Sh12, 000, a chief inspector Sh16, 000, a superintendent Sh26,500 and a senior superintendent Sh26,500.

 

 

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