Team to consider counties’ revenue in MCAs pay hike

By EDWIN CHESEREK and FRED KIBOR

Uasin Gishu and Elegeyo/Marakwet counties: The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has said it will review salaries of Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) based on the revenue generated by the various regions.

The commission’s chairperson Sarah Serem said counties should develop their revenue base to help tame the runaway wage bill. “Plans are underway to review the salaries of all State officers but the commission decided to put revenue generated by counties into consideration when awarding salary increments,” she said.

The chair expressed concern that some MCAs were pressing for salary increments yet their counties do not operate under sustainable economies. “The country’s wage bill is truly unsustainable that is why we have to lay out strategies on how to generate more revenue to address the problem. This can only be achieved through collective efforts,” she explained.

This comes against the backdrop of protests by MCAs over salary increment that has seen some boycotting the commissioner’s tour.

Ms Serem who is on a tour of the counties, asked the leaders to give dialogue a chance instead of politicising the issue concerning their salaries, but the assemblies have ruled out any negotiation. “We are asking the aggrieved parties to come to us and raise their issues because our task is to set salaries for all State officers and some may not be satisfied with the proposed offers,” she added.

Meanwhile, business at Elgeyo/Marakwet County Assembly has been paralysed after members passed a Motion of adjournment protesting against poor pay. The move by the MCAs to adjourn the house sittings until their demands are met is likely to jeopardise the operation of the county government since it is the assembly that passes Bills.

Job evaluation

The MCAs accused the SRC of dishonesty saying the commission failed to honour a pay hike deal struck several months ago.

Leader of majority Wilson Boit Kipketer moved the Motion saying that the MCAs were frustrated and this was not good for devolution. “There is no other arm that will ensure devolution is achieved other than the county assemblies,” he said.

But Serem said her team is seeking discussions with the leaders and other employees over the problems.

At the same time, she said they would undertake job evaluation in all counties by looking at individual productivity so that it forms the basis of setting salaries.