New police house allowances to be paid in January

The sorry state of housing at Karatina Police Station in Mathira, Nyeri County. [Mose Sammy/Standard]

Police and prison officers will start receiving a new commuter allowance at the end of January.

However, proposed housing allowances have been slashed and the officers have less than 18 days to vacate State-leased houses and start living in their own rented houses.

Initially, the Government planned to pay constables living in Nairobi Sh18, 124 per month in house allowances, while those in Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Meru and Uasin Gishu were to receive Sh13, 124. Those working in other counties were to be paid Sh8, 124.

But after consultations, it emerged that the Government has a policy not to pay allowances that exceed or are almost half of an employee's salary.

An internal proposal now shows the Government plans to pay the lowest cadres - constable and corporal - Sh9, 500 in house allowance, for those in Nairobi. Constables will earn Sh3, 000 in commuter allowance while corporals will be paid Sh4, 000.

Officers in the same rank in Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Nyeri, Eldoret, Thika, Kisii, Malindi, Kitale and Kakamega will earn Sh7, 000, while those working in other regions will get Sh5, 500.

A sergeant in Nairobi will earn Sh9, 800 as house allowance, Sh4, 000 as commuter allowance while those in Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Nyeri, Eldoret, Thika, Kisii, Malindi, Kitale and Kakamega will get Sh7, 300 in house allowance. Those working in other regions will earn Sh5, 700.

A senior sergeant of police in Nairobi is expected to receive Sh15, 700 in house allowance, Sh4, 000 in commuter allowance while those working in Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Nyeri, Eldoret, Thika, Kisii, Malindi, Kitale and Kakamega will earn Sh11, 300 in house allowance. Those working in other regions will be paid Sh8, 150.

Police inspector

A police inspector in Nairobi set to earn Sh24, 000 in house allowance, Sh4, 000 in commuter allowance while those in Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Nyeri, Eldoret, Thika, Kisii, Malindi, Kitale and Kakamega will get Sh15, 000 in allowance. The rest will be paid Sh11, 000.

A chief inspector in Nairobi will be paid Sh27,000 as house allowance, Sh5,000 in commuter allowance while those in Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Nyeri, Eldoret, Thika, Kisii, Malindi, Kitale and Kakamega will get Sh18,000 in house allowance. The rest will be paid Sh13, 000.

A senior superintendent in Nairobi will earn a house allowance of Sh36, 000, Sh8, 000 in commuter allowance while those in Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Nyeri, Eldoret, Thika, Kisii, Malindi, Kitale and Kakamega will get Sh28, 000 house allowance. The rest will earn Sh21, 500.

An officer of the rank of commissioner of police in Nairobi is proposed to get a house allowance of Sh45, 000, Sh12, 000 in commuter allowance while those in Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Nyeri, Eldoret, Thika, Kisii, Malindi, Kitale and Kakamega will get Sh34, 000 house allowance. Those in other regions will be paid Sh24, 000.

An Assistant Inspector General of police in Nairobi is expected to earn a house allowance of Sh55, 000, Sh16, 000 in commuter allowance, while those in Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Nyeri, Eldoret, Thika, Kisii, Malindi, Kitale and Kakamega will pocket Sh40, 000 house allowance. The rest will be paid Sh28, 800.

The rates will apply for officers in the Kenya Prisons Service. The officers will now have to cater for their rents and electricity bills. This is expected to save the Government up to Sh3 billion.