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The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has proposed to increase salaries for top government officials.
However, the proposal was turned down by the President, directing SRC to increase teachers, police officers, KDF officers, and other civil servants’ salaries by 7-10 percent effective July 1.
Deputy President has now dared Cabinet Secretaries to resign if they are dissatisfied with President William Ruto’s directive to stop salary increases for top state officials.
Speaking in Elgeyo Marakwet, the DP backed Ruto’s directive saying that there is no need to increase their salaries at this time.
“For now top government officials can wait until the economy stabilizes. Let us sort out our teachers and police first. If there is a CS who is dissatisfied with Ruto’s move to stop the salary increase, they can resign and we bring someone else,” he said.
He added that even if there is money available they will not take it and will ‘return to sender’ if given.
Gachagua said the money should instead be used to buy fertilizer for farmers and also given for the welfare of the elderly and women.
SRC has since defended its decision, citing that the review was part of an earlier cycle that had been stopped due to Covid-19.
The commission chairperson Lyn Mengich said Covid-19 had affected the salaries review but now things are back to normal.
“SRC 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 now reviewed the Salaries as required,” she said.