Public Service Cabinet Secretary, Aisha Jumwa, retracted her earlier statement through which she promised to increase the salaries of public servants.
While on tour at a Huduma Centre in Mombasa on Wednesday, November 2, Aisha Jumwa underlined that she had limited powers to increase the salaries of government officials.
Instead, her ministry would suggest salary reviews to the President and relevant bodies.
“It is not secret that we are in the middle of an economic crisis, but as a ministry, we have to do our work in suggesting salary reviews because it is our responsibility,” she explained.
Any increments, she noted, would be determined by the availability of funds.
“If the money will allow, things will be done, if not, we will shelve it and wait for the opportune time,” she said.
Earlier, Jumwa had cited poor pay as contributing to public servants performing optimally.
She also claimed that the officers' morale was low and financial motivation would spur them to work effectively.
“Civil servants are a demoralized lot, and we don’t want to see them suffering. They cannot cope with the high cost of living occasioned by runaway inflation,” she said while touring Nairobi Huduma Centre.
The former Malindi MP added that she would remedy the issue by revising their salaries and numerations.
“As Kenya Kwanza government, we want to revamp their morale by increasing their salaries as soon as possible," she said.
Her critics, however, wondered how she would increase salaries at a time when the country was grappling with a bloated wage bill.
President Ruto had also directed MPs to find solutions to the country’s huge wage bill and expenditure, stating that he wanted the national budget cut by Ksh300 billion.
