State and public officials to get a pay rise

Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) Chairperson Lyn Mengich during a media briefing on July 1, 2023 [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has increased salaries for state and other public officers backdating the increment to July 1.

Addressing the media on August 9, SRC chairperson Lyn Mengich said that the salary review covers both state and public officers with an intent to achieve sustainability.

Mengich said the review was based on factors including the remuneration and benefits structure considering the employees who are below the market positioning.

“Therefore, this review seeks to adjust salary structures that are below the 50th percentile so as to achieve equity and fairness through harmonization to the extent of affordability and physical sustainability,” Mengich said.

According to the commission rating, State officers are at the 45th percentile, state corporations at (89 pc), civil servants of national and county government are below(39pc), teaching services (at 36pc), public universities are (at 49pc) and other public officers at 84 percentile.

The salary increase is reviewed owing to the cost of living adjustments, and legal compliance with a statutory minimum wave among others.

“The average increase is seven to ten percent over a two-year period inclusive of the existing notch increase which averages 3 per cent annually,” she added.

In the review, for instance, Cabinet Secretaries will have their salaries increased by about 2 per cent to Sh957,000 from Sh924,000.

However, the commission retained the salaries of President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagia owing to the fact that their pay is above the marketing standards.

Earlier, President Ruto had pledged with the commission to freeze wage increases for State officers arguing it could widen the pay disparity.

“It is not right for the people at the top to earn more than 100 times more than those at the bottom,” President Ruto said.

The commission has declared that it will not increase salaries for employees whose salaries marks above the standardized percentile.

“Therefore hence will retain the salary structures for institutions that are already at the 50th percentile and above,” Mengich added