President William Ruto's plan to hire tens of Chief Administrative Secretaries (CASs) on Thursday, February 16 received a shot in the arm after a court ruling gave the process a green bill of health.
Immediately after the dismissal of the petition that was filed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), focus shifted to the likely names to feature and the cost of the controversial positions.
“A Chief Administrative Secretary will serve on contract as determined by the appointing Authority. This position is graded at CSG 3 in the Public Service - the remuneration and benefits commensurate to this level will be applicable,” Public Service Commission announced.
In her ruling, Justice Monica Mbaru noted that Public Service Commission's decision to create the position was lawful and that the government can go ahead with the appointments.
With the development, it is important to understand what the office bearers will take home in salaries and allowances.
Based on former President Uhuru Kenyatta's Cabinet's salary scales, a CAS will take home a cool Ksh874,500 a month.
It, therefore, means that it will cost the country some Ksh486.4 million in salaries alone to keep twenty-two CASs in office.
“Following the establishment of the Office of the Chief Administrative Secretary by the President under Article 132(4) (a) of the Constitution as read with Section 30 of the Public Service Commission Act, 2017, the Public Service Commission hereby invites applications from suitably qualified persons who wish to be considered for appointment,” explained PSC chairman Anthony Muchiri.
While Cabinet Secretaries carry home around Ksh924,000 down from Ksh1.056 million, as was advised by the Salaries and Remuneration Communication (SRC).
In the pay structure that was announced by Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), Principal Secretaries (PSs) pay was also reviewed from Ksh874,500 to Ksh765,000.
President William Ruto appointed 51 PSs, who gobble at least Ksh39 million per month and 469 million in a year.
At the same time, State functionaries will part with Ksh285.78 million in gratuities, pensions and insurance which is 60 per cent of their gross pay.
“Recurrent expenditure is a risk and we are having pressures on the wage bill from unions and if you allow me Chairman Budget from parliament,” former Treasury PS Kamau Thuge explained.
Data from the National Treasury shows that Kenya's minimum wage increased to Ksh15,120 per month in 2022 from Ksh13,572 in 2021.
While SRC noted that the national wage bill reduced from 57.33 per cent of revenue in 2013/2014 to 48.1% in 2018/2019 as a result of revenue growth and other initiatives.
