A section of embattled commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is reportedly considering leaving office amid mounting pressure for their resignation.
The IEBC officials, who spoke to the Nation in confidence, expressed that they were willing to resign but on condition that they get their send off package before they leave office.
The said commissioners expressed that they could not dare leave office without their money, citing the suffering their predecessors underwent after the 10th Parliament disbanded the previous poll body – the Electoral Commission of Kenya.
The officers indicated that their predecessors have been battling for their money which has been a subject of court battles since 2008.
Going by a Gazette Notice by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission on the payments and other benefits of State Officers in the constitutional commissions and independent offices, the current IEBC Commissioners would take home a pay for all the months remaining before the end of their term – on November 9, 2017 – and a 31 per cent gratuity for each year served.
IEBC Commissioner Isaac Hassan, whose gross monthly pay is approximately Sh1.1 Million, would pocket nearly Sh17 Million if he was to resign by the end of July – 15 months to the end of his contract.
Mr Hassan would also take home a service gratuity amounting to Sh14 Million calculated at 31 per cent of his annual basic pay of Sh9.1 million for every year worked.
With a monthly gross pay of Sh895,270, IEBC vice chairperson Lillian Mahiri-Zaja would take home a gross pay of Sh13 Million and a gratuity of about Sh12 Million.
For the remaining seven IEBC commissioners, who earn a maximum monthly pay of Sh725,806, each would take home about Sh11 Million for the remaining 15 months. In total, the seven commissioners would pocket Sh76 Million plus a combined service gratuity of Sh66 million.
The electoral commission has nine commissioners among them Mr Hassan, vice chairperson Lillian Mahiri-Zaja, Mohammed Alawi, Thomas Letangule, Albert Bwire, Kule Godana, Abdullahi Sharawe, Muthoni Wangai and Yusuf Nzibo.
