Charles Nyachae criticises Uhuru remarks on car grants

By ERIC ABUGA               

Kenya: Constitution Implementation Commission (CIC) chairman Charles Nyachae has criticised President Uhuru Kenyatta’s remarks on car grants for members of county assemblies (MCAs).

Nyachae said it is the duty of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to decide on salaries and other perks of state officers. The CIC chairman also questioned the President’s comments that came at a time when he (Uhuru) was spearheading debate on the spiraling wage bill.

Speaking in Kisii over the weekend, Nyachae said any issues touching on salaries and allowances of state officers had effectively been put solely under the Sarah Serem-led SRC.

“The President was giving his personal feelings and view but he has no mandate to direct on whether the MCAs should get a car grant similar to that of MPs,” said Nyachae.

Nyachae said it was confusing for the President and the SRC to lead a campaign for public officers to reduce their salaries but at the same give billions of shillings free.

“It is time we respected the authorities that have been put in place to assist in giving direction on leadership and management of public resources,” said the CIC boss.

On the current wage debate, Nyachae said it is premature for those calling for the scrapping of the offices created by the Constitution or indeed the entire devolved system.

 “The debate is ill advised and the same people who want to kill devolution are the same individuals behind this unnecessary debate. We should be careful not to derail implementation of the Constitution that Kenyans fought for,” said Nyachae.

Nyachae said experts should be given a chance to give expert advice before MPs are given a chance to debate over it.

“The new system of governance has brought minimal impact on the wage bill,” added Nyachae.