Kenya's wage commission moves to court to have order on MPs' pay lifted

david nganga

January 11, 2018 12:30 PM

The MPs had last month received a temporary court order barring SRC from slashing their salaries

The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has moved to court seeking to stop MPs' bid for high perks a month after the lawmakers won a court case barring the commission from slashing their pay.

In an application filed Wednesday, the SRC wants the High Court order which barred MPs from receiving new reviewed pay perks, set aside.

Through lawyer Andrew Wandabwa, SRC said the lawmakers stand to take advantage of the stay order to pay themselves higher salaries and other benefits, which will be irrecoverable should they lose the salary row suit.

"Given the fact that the stay order is in force, PSC is in the process of trying to remunerate MPs on irregular terms and which, if effected, the same will be irrecoverable,” said Mr Wandabwa.

SRC, which sets wage levels, in July announced lower salaries for top officials including the president, MCAs and MPs starting which included the scrapping of a Sh5 million car grant given to every legislator, removal of some allowances and a Sh90,000 reduction in basic monthly pay.

The MPs however obtained a reprieve last month after the High Court suspended the implementation of the notice.

Justice George Odunga issued the temporary reprieve after the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) sued the salaries commission and accused it of interfering with its constitutional mandate as well as seeking to cripple the functioning of the 12th Parliament.

david nganga