Uhuru, Ruto's salary set to increase by 10% if re-elected
In 2014, Uhuru Kenyatta announced a voluntarily 20 per cent pay cut, but later his salary was increased by 9.1 per cent.
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The 10 per cent increase will see their combined pay hit Sh40.2 million in the 2017/18 year from the current Sh36.6 million. Their combined allowances, however, remain unchanged at Sh14.6 million starting July.
In 2014, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced a voluntarily 20 per cent pay cut to curb the then increasing wage bill, but later his salary was increased by a 9.1 per cent.
Equally, Ruto’s salary was increased by 9.1 per cent last year, but the implementation remains held till he is re-elected to government. He had also in 2014 announced a voluntarily pay cut to follow in the footsteps of the president.
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If Uhuru and Ruto lose to the opposition in the polls, it means that the new office bearer will start on a lower pay (estimated combined for president and deputy at Sh27 million) set by the Sarah Serem led Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
According to pay scheme by the SRC, President Uhuru Kenyatta is entitled to a salary range of between Sh1.23 million and Sh1.65 million monthly, meaning that his maximum pay is Sh19.8 million a year.
The pay rise comes as the Treasury struggles to implement an austerity plan to free up cash for development and essential services such as security, health and education.
On the other hand, Ruto’s salary per month ranges between Sh1.05 million and Sh1.4 million, accumulating to a high of Sh16.8 million per year.
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The turn of events to finally increase the pay for the two top government officials has been a surprise as the Treasury had earlier quashed any move to have the salaries of the two increased.
The treasury had instituted the ban as a measure to contain the ballooning wage bill in the public sector.
Regional look
For the 12 months running, Kenya has had the hugest public wage bill standing at Sh568 billion. This is a 52 percent of all the revenue collected.
This implies that the development agenda has been denied adequate funding.
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Globally, Kenya is at 17 per cent above the most preferred rate. This coupled with massive looting and corruption in the public sector sets a pace for Jubilee administration to lose touch with the electorates in the coming polls, analysts say.
Civil servants
Last week, State House announced a salary increase for civil servants by Sh100 billion to be spread in quarters over the next four years, starting July.
The pay rise however, sets in as a section of the public workers are on the streets pushing for more pay and improved working environment.
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Already public university lecturers and doctors downed their tools, pushing for the full implementation of their 2015-2017 and 2013 Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) respectively.
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