Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, on Saturday, July 1, challenged disgruntled Cabinet Secretaries to resign in the wake of President William Ruto's directive to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to suspend their proposed salary increments.
Speaking in Elgeyo Marakwet County during the Thanksgiving ceremony of National Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo, Gachagua emphasised President William Ruto's readiness to appoint alternative CSs willing to accept existing salary structures.
The DP implored President Ruto to redirect the proposed funds to boost various sectors of the economy, including procuring additional fertilisers for farmers.
"If there is a Cabinet Secretary who is not pleased with President William Ruto's directive, you have a choice to write a resignation letter and let us find someone else who will accept that salary," Gachagua announced in a thought-provoking dare.
In an effort to advocate for a firm fiscal responsibility, Gachagua directed all high-ranking state servants to refund SRC in case it disregards Ruto's orders.
"We don't want salary increments. Even if the money is found, we will not accept it. If you remit the salaries with increased figures, we will return them to the sender," Gachagua added, urging a more sustainable and inclusive approach to managing the bloating wage bill.
Returning the money would also reiterate Ruto's approach to promoting transparency and integrity in his administration.
He, however, supported Ruto, indicating that other civil servants should receive salary increments starting on Saturday, July 1.
Cabinet Secretaries were expected to receive Ksh1,056,000 as of July 2024 from the current Ksh924,000.
On Friday, June 30, Ruto rejected the 14 per cent salary increase proposed by SRC. Instead, the Head of State directed the commission to harmonious pay slips for all civil servants.
"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."
"But for the other people, the state officers, myself, my deputy, ministers, PSs, MPs and others. That salary would remain the way it is. Let it remain the way it is until SRC gives us international best practices because we need to reduce the gap," Ruto ordered.
In the proposal, Ruto was poised to earn Ksh1,650,000, up from the current Ksh1,443,750.
