Hefty Salaries and Benefits Principal Secretaries Enjoy 

A collage of PS Education D. Jwan, PS Interior Karanja Kibicho and PS Health Macharia Kamau
A collage of PS Education D. Jwan, PS Interior Karanja Kibicho and PS Health Macharia Kamau
Kenyans.co.ke

After the Public Service Commission (PSC)  announced job opportunities for Principal Secretaries, serving PSs, former Members of Parliament and top corporate executives, expressed interest.

According to the commission, 9,154 applied for the positions whose deadline was on September 27. 

Apart from the sweeping powers they hold, the high number of applications is mainly because of the hefty salaries and benefits Principal Secretaries enjoy.

An undated image of former Nominated MP David Sankok in Parliament
An undated image of former Nominated MP David Sankok in Parliament
Kenyans.co.ke

According to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) Gazette notice dated July 27, 2022, PSs earn a monthly gross salary of Ksh 765,188. 

The amount includes a house allowance of Ksh 150,000, an official commuter allowance and a salary market adjustment of Ksh 156,075. 

They also receive gratuity at the end of their terms of service, which is 31% of their annual basic pay for every year served.

However, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) retained the salaries and benefits entitled to State Officers in July 2022, under the Executive arm of government among them Principal Secretaries.

In accordance with Section 11(e) of the SRC Act, 2011, the Lyn Mengich-led commission set a four-year review cycle for remuneration and benefits in the public service so as to align with the country's planning and budgetary processes.

This was after the SRC alluded to the third remuneration review cycle informed by job evaluations, salary surveys and the performance of the economy in the previous financial years.

President William Ruto is expected to name 49 Principal Secretaries (PSs)  seven more than his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta’s government.

About seven PSs will be named to new ministries after some state departments were split. One among them will be allocated to the office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary headed by Musalia Mudavadi.

The Ministry of Health, which had a single state department, will now have two Medical Services and Public Health.

The Ministry of Interior and National Administration will now have three state departments.  Other ministries affected include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Transport and Trade.

The seven more PS will see taxpayers dig deep in their pockets to pay Ksh5,356,316 monthly and Ksh64,275, 792 annually. 

Further, Kenyans will have to fork out at least Ksh321 Million to pay the seven principal secretaries in the next five years without allowances such as medical and other benefits.

From the estimates, Ruto's administration will spend nearly Ksh2.2 billion on salaries of the 49 PSs, within five years.

 IEBC Commissioner Boya Molu also made to the shortlist for the PS jobs ​
IEBC Commissioner Boya Molu also made it to the shortlist for the PS jobs



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