Sh3.7b released for police pay hike

By LINAH BENYAWA

Internal Security minister Katoo ole Metito has announced that the Treasury had released Sh3.7 billion for salaries and recruitment of police officers.

Metito who seems to have responded to alleged threats of go-slow by the police said the money will be used to cater for adjustment of basic salary for police officers who have been demanding a pay rise.

He said salaries will be increased by eight per cent forthwith and disclosed that new salaries will be backdated to October and paid at the end of November.

But he added that part of this money will be used to recruit 7,000 new police officers next year.

Meanwhile, services in most financial institutions in Eldoret were paralysed after Administration Police officers staged a go-slow over delayed salary increment.

Some of the institutions hired private guards for their premises as they struggled to organise chaotic queues in the halls. Cash on transit vehicles remained parked in company yards as the workers feared being robbed without police escort.

Paul Kiplagat, who had visited Equity Bank in the morning to withdraw cash for his son’s school fees, expressed disappointment over failure by the Government to address the issue beforehand.

“I need to pay school fees for my son, but I cannot make any transactions over the counter. The Government should pay the officers their dues as soon as possible,” Lagat said.

Mobile money transfer outlets did booming business as most customers opted for their services. Long queues were also seen at ATMs booths.

At the Uasin Gishu District headquarters, operations stalled, as officers manning the customer care desk did not attend to visitors. Officers who spoke to The Standard on condition of anonymity stated that their pay hike had not been reflected in their monthly pay prompting the industrial action.

- Additional reporting by Faith Ronoh and Kevin Tunoi