Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto yet to take 20pc pay cut

Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki. Some leaders from western Kenya have called for consultations with the Senate over a Bill seeking to compel them to set aside 60 per cent of funds allocated to them for development. FILE PHOTO |

What you need to know:

  • The SRC cannot effect the President’s salary cut and that of his deputy since they have not written authorisation letters to the commission.
  • Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki is the only politician who has taken a pay cut.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto have not yet taken a 20 per cent pay cut that they promised Kenyans six months ago.

The Nation has established that only 16 of the 262 parastatal chiefs adhered to the presidential directive that required them to have their salaries reduced or face the sack.

The President and Mr Ruto had in March said they would lead in taking the salary cuts.

The Head of State had further said Cabinet secretaries and parastatal chiefs would take a 10 per cent pay cut.

According to official documents of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) seen by the Nation, 20 senior government employees have authorised the SRC to deduct a certain percentage from their salaries.

The Nation has learnt that the SRC cannot effect the President’s salary cut and that of his deputy since they have not written authorisation letters to the commission.

The commission launched a countrywide campaign that was aimed at coming up with ways of reducing the ballooning public wage bill.

Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki is the only politician who has taken a pay cut.

In a letter to the commission in April, Prof Kindiki authorised the SRC to deduct 20 per cent of his salary.

Other political leaders who had promised to take a pay cut have not written to the SRC to have their salaries slashed.

Only two of President Kenyatta’s Cabinet members gave SRC the nod to have their salaries cut.

LETTER OF AUTHORITY

Mr Michael Kamau (Transport) and Mr James Macharia (Health) gave SRC the green light to cut 10 per cent of their salaries.

Mr Kamau sent his letter to the SRC last month, while Mr Macharia did so in April.

Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang also gave the commission the go-ahead to reduce his salary.

Out of the 262 parastatals in the country, only 16 of its chiefs have given the commission permission to deduct 10 per cent of their salaries.

Women Enterprise Fund CEO Samuel Wainaina took the pay cut in April.

INSTITUTIONNAME OF OFFICER TAKING PAY CUTDESIGNATION
Women Enterprise FundMr Samuel T. WainainaCEO
SenateProf Kithure KindikiSenator
Kenya Sugar BoardMs R. MkokCEO
National Irrigation BoardMr D.K. BarasaGeneral Manager
Ministry of Education, Science and TechnologyDr Belio R. KipsangPrincipal Secretary
Ministry of HealthMr James W. MachariaCabinet Secretary
Athi River Water Services BoardMr Malaquen MilgoCEO
Ministry of Transport and InfrastructureMr M.S.M. KamauCabinet Secretary
Ministry of MiningMr Richard T. EkaiPrincipal Secretary
PostaDr Enock O. KinaraPostmaster-General
Office of the Attorney-General and Department of JusticeMr Njee MuturiSolicitor-General
Lake Victoria North Water Services BoardMr George KwendoCEO
LapfundMr David KorossCEO
Kenya Industrial Estate LimitedMr Julius O. MokogiMD
Kenya RailwaysMr A.K. MainaMD
NHIFMr S. Ole KirgottyCEO
NemaProf Geoffrey WahunguDirector-General
Competition Authority of KenyaMr Wang’ombe KariukiDirector-General
Rural Electrification AuthorityMr Ng’ang’a MunyuAg. CEO
Bukura Agricultural CollegeMr Justus SimiyuCEO