Ruto playing ‘political gimmick’ with Kenyans in rejecting salary increase
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President Ruto accused of playing a 'political gimmick' after rejecting the implementation of a salary increase by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC)
President Ruto accused of playing a ‘political gimmick’ after rejecting the implementation of a salary increase by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
Speaking on Citizen TV’s Daybreak show on Monday, Yatta MP Basil Ngui said President Ruto is not genuine in his assertion and is instead hoaxing Kenyans to create an impression that he has their best interests at heart.
His statement comes after President Ruto rejected salary increment proposal, noting that the gap between the low-earning public servants and the high earners is huge, hence should be moderated.
“It’s a political gimmick where you tell SRC to increase salaries so that when I go to the public debate I tell them I am going to reject [it],” he said.
“If you look at the President, the CSs, the DP, do you know they never incur costs of the fuel of their cars, housing costs in terms of maintenance, workers, travel, all that is done by the government.”
On his part, Mathare MP Anthony Oluoch argued that President Ruto has no constitutional mandate to bar SRC, an independent institution, from its mandate, unless through a parliamentary process.
Oluoch added that the SRC is merely working in accordance with its constitutional mandate, and if President Ruto is upset about the plan, he can look for ways to have the decision reviewed, but he cannot stop them from carrying out their duties.
“The President ought to allow SRC to conclude what it does and if you look at Article 95, the President does not make laws, he can create policy,” said Oluoch.
“He (Ruto) should retreat to Cabinet and say in terms of our current status of the economy we are trying to get from point A to B and say SRC should perhaps suspend for a time being, a policy that can come to parliament for debate,” he added.
“On a roadside declaration, the president cannot come and take away what the constitution has put on SRC.”
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Meanwhile, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has vowed to press on with the planned review of salaries for all public sector workers, including State officers, despite public remarks by President William Ruto advising against any pay increments for the highly paid senior officials.
The commission said it will continue seeking public comments on the proposed review until July 13 before gazetting the new salary structure for State officers later this month while advising on adjustments to other public officers.
The SRC said it has accommodated the President’s remarks, likening them to any other comments made at the public participation stage.
“We are in the process of public participation, the President has a role as well in terms of giving the commission his views and his feedback. In that capacity, the President has given us his views so have employing entities,” SRC chairperson Lyn Mengich said.
On Friday, William Ruto directed the SRC to freeze wage increases for State officers arguing this could widen the pay disparity.
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