Select government officials will earn a Ksh150,000 special responsibility allowance should the proposed salaries by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) pass.
In the proposed salaries for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Chief Justice Martha Koome will be beneficiaries of the monthly allowance.
As explained by SRC, the allowance is set to be paid to the officials for any responsibilities done outside of their stipulated mandate.
Other leaders set to benefit from proposed allowances are Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu, Principal Judge and the Deputy Principal Judge.
Other officials selected to benefit are from the National Assembly and the Senate.
"The allowance shall be paid up to a maximum of Ksh150,000 per month to State officers in the Senate and National Assembly whose duties involve added parliamentary leadership over and above the duties stipulated in one’s terms of service, for which a regular salary is paid," read the proposals in part.
From the 2022/23 financial year, the allowance was paid to designated offices as set by SRC from time to time.
Other Officers Set to Enjoy the Allowance
In the proposals, three Principal Secretaries are also set to receive the allowance which will be capped at Ksh100,000.
They include PSs in charge of the Ministries of Interior, National Treasury, and Foreign Affairs.
The responsibility allowance of the resident judge in the Judiciary, on the other hand, was set at Ksh130,000.
In the county governments, Chief Whips, Deputy Leaders of majority and minority saw their allowances hit the Ksh29,000 per month mark.
The chairperson of committees and Deputy Chief Whip in the county assemblies will earn Ksh23,000 in special allowances.
Members of the Speakers panel in the counties will also get Ksh20,000.
Notably, the set allowances are proposals and set for public participation. Already, the commission came under sharp criticism from President William Ruto who opposed plans to increase his salary and that of other senior officials in government.
"I have told SRC that there is an internationally accepted formula called compression formula. Until they come back to me and say they have met that formula, our salary increment will wait." Ruto stated.
In response, SRC chairperson Lyn Mengich, explained that proposals were part of their normal reviews adding that they would consider Ruto's directive.
"The commission set a four-year review cycle and we are now in the third review cycle. There was a salary structure freeze due to Covid-19. The commission has reviewed the salaries as required," she stated.
