President William Ruto has taken action has taken action after the proposed salary increment for state officials was effected from July 1, 2024.
According to Hussein Mohamed, the Statehouse Spokesperson, the head of state has directed the national treasury to review SRC’s gazette notice dated August 2023.
“President@WilliamsRuto has directed the National Treasury to review the Gazette Notice dated August 9, 2023, from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) regarding the remuneration & benefits for State officers in the Executive of the National Government, the Senate and the National Assembly, in light of the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024 & the fiscal constraints expected this financial year.
“The President has emphasised that this is a time, more than ever before, for the Executive & all arms of government to live within their means,” he stated on X.
Several Mps, senators and governors had expressed displeasure with the increment, considering that Kenyans are currently engaged with protests against the government, due to taxes among other issues.
Among those who rejected the salary increment are Babu Owino, Edwin Sifuna, Aaron Cheruiyot among others.
Lang’ata MP Phelix Oduor, alias Jalang’o said that the government was only setting them up against the already angered Kenyans.
“There are things that almost look like a setup! We are in a crisis and SRC are proposing an increment of 14K ! Yaani mnataka tupigwe tukufe ndio mfurahi? Mimi sitaki!” He wrote online.
His Mumias East counterpart Peter Salasya on the other hand claimed that SRC was now being used to play politics
He suggested that instead of increasing salaries of government officials, the money should be used to pay teachers, and even police officers.
“These people are clueless, they are worsening the situation,” he said
He added that, “Mengich stop playing with the minds of Kenyans. No MP has asked you for salary increment.”