Ruto calls for reviewing of salary increment for state officers, says gov't has to live within its means

This after a gazette notice dated August 9, 2023, by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) announced upwards salary reviews for the Executive and Legislature from July 1, 2024. The changes have sparked public uproar amid the cry to cut public expenditure.

Ruto, through State House spokesperson Hussein Mohamed, directed the National Treasury to review the gazette notice in light of the now-withdrawn Finance Bill 2024 and the fiscal constraints expected in the financial year 2024/25.

"The President has emphasized that this is a time, more than ever before, for the Executive & all arms of government to live within their means," said Mohamed on X.

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has also stated that despite SRC being mandated to do regular salary reviews for all state officers, it needs to maintain austerity measures.

Kuria maintained that there is a need to adhere to the resolutions of the Third National Wage Bill Conference of reducing the Wage bill to 35 percent of the national budget down from 46 percent.

"I reiterate my observations during the Conference that it is not sustainable to have 900,000 public servants from both levels of Government consume Ksh 1.1 trillion annually, which is equivalent to 47 percent of national revenues, leaving the rest of 54 million Kenyans with 53 percent, with debt servicing and development to cater for, among other expenditure. I believed then, just as now, that this is more of a moral and ethical issue than an economic issue," said Kuria in a statement.

"Our current trajectory indicates a continual rise in expenditure on salaries, allowances, and benefits for public servants, placing immense strain on our national finances. This is not a challenge we can afford to ignore."

Kuria therefore denied to implement the gazette notice, demanding SRC to de-gazette the new salary structure.

The report would see Cabinet Secretaries earning Ksh.990,000 from Ksh.957,000 alongside other allowances, the Attorney General and the Prime Cabinet Secretary will also earn a salary increment of the same amount.

Principal Secretaries (PSs) were to bag Ksh.819,844 up from Ksh.792,519.

Speakers Moses Wetangula (National Assembly) and Amason Kingi (Senate) would both enjoy a hefty perk from Ksh.1.1 million to Ksh.1.2 million.

Governors were to take home Ksh.990,000 from Ksh.957,000 as all the 349 MPs and 67 senators from Ksh.725,502 to Ksh. 739,600.

The Inspector General of Police together with the National Intelligence Service Director General were set to earn Ksh.819,844 up from Ksh.792,519.