SRC Blocks Medics' Pay Increase

A medical practitioner dressed in protective gear at Coronavirus isolation and treatment facility in Mbagathi District Hospital on Friday, March 6, 2020.
A medical practitioner dressed in protective gear at Coronavirus isolation and treatment facility in Mbagathi District Hospital on Friday, March 6, 2020.
Simon Kiragu
KENYANS.CO.KE

The Salaries and Remuneration Commission has termed Machakos County's move to increase health workers allowances as unlawful.

SRC in a statement to Council of Governors (CoG)asked the counties to follow due process in the introduction of any new allowance.

The statement issued by SRC Chairperson Lyn Mengich said such unilateral actions are unlawful and likely to cause inequity in the health sector across the country.

In response (CoG) Chairman Wycliffe Oparanya said counties have not violated rules in offering cash incentives to health workers and asked for SRC's for support.

An image of Lyn Mengich
Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) Chairperson Lyn Mengich in a press briefing on May 15th 2019.
Business Daily

In a phone interview with KTN News, Mengich raised concerns the commission had with the move by the county to increase allowances.

"The issue we have is that the payment by the counties without following the due process is likely to led to inequity in remuneration of the health care personnel across the country.

"Consequently this will lead to instability in the sector at this critical time when all counties require adequate healthcare personnel.

"Indeed we have received comments from a number of counties that really they may not be able to afford what Machakos has done and that will bring about of inequity."

On Wednesday, April 8, Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua announced health care workers in his county will receive an allowance ranging from Ksh.5,000 to Ksh.20,000.

Mengich went on to reveal that the government is trying to ration its expenditure due to Covid-19, "The other issue that we would like to raise is that it is important to recognize the national government is currently raising funds to facilitate the fight against the pandemic.

"With the scarcity, it is important to balance the need for resources to fight the pandemic and resources for extra compensation."

Kenya Union of Clinical Officers responded to the letter by SRC terming their it as hurtful especially after not listening to their calls of being underpaid.

Mengich added that no county has made a proposal to compensate the health workers which is the process that should be followed to have allowances increased.

Machakos Governor Dr Alfred Mutua arrives at Kenya School of Government (KSG), Lower Kabete, Kiambu for a Consultative Devolution meeting on Thursday, February 20, 2020.
Machakos Governor Dr Alfred Mutua arrives at Kenya School of Government (KSG), Lower Kabete, Kiambu for a Consultative Devolution meeting on Thursday, February 20, 2020.
Simon Kiragu
Kenyans.co.ke
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