The Chairperson of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), Lyn Mengich has revealed the criteria employed by the commission to determine adjustments in salary hike for State and public officers.
Speaking during an interview on Spice FM on Thursday, August 10, Mengich outlined the commission's approach, shedding light on the factors that influenced its decisions.
Mengich said the commission's evaluation of job values was based on a meticulous graded process, resulting in equitable pay for roles within the same grade.
"There are very clear principles that the commission will use to review pay, including affordability, fiscal sustainability, performance and productivity, ability to attract and retain public service... equal pay for equal value. But none of those speaks about relativity between one job and another," she explained.
According to the commission's chairperson, relativity is not a constitutional principle guiding pay determination.
"That factor that was introduced is actually not part of what is in the Constitution as a principle for pay determination," she clarified.
"The second thing is to say, what then determines our comparison of pay? And if I pick the principle of equal pay for work of equal value, it means that we determine the relative worth of the job not as a ratio of another," she said.
She noted that the importance of job evaluation in gauging the relative worth of each role, ultimately assigning it a grade that corresponds to its significance.
Mengich said the oversight responsibilities are entirely separate from remuneration considerations.
"Does oversight have anything to do with what you're paid? Do you say; because I am paid this amount, I cannot oversee you?" she posed.
"Your mandate to oversight comes from the law, not from pay."
She affirmed that the compensation one receives does not dictate the effectiveness of their oversight duties.
"It doesn't matter, if I am given a role to oversee, I will oversee based on the virtue of the authority you derived from the law, not pay," she said.
On evaluation process, Mengich explained; "When we evaluate the job, we take into account the three key roles...the role of representation, the oversight, and legislation."
This assessment, Mengich said, ensures that the remuneration reflects the comprehensive responsibilities of the role.
Under the new SRC salary grading system, State employees will now get a 7-10 per cent salary raise to be backdated to July 1 after a freeze placed in 2021.
However, President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi will not be affected by the new changes.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi will take home a gross salary of Sh957,000, with a salary market adjustment of Sh182,800, similar with other Cabinet Secretaries, the Attorney General, Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet.
Principal Secretary, Inspector General of Police and the Director-General, National Intelligence Service will take home a gross salary of Sh792,519 with a market adjustment of Sh167,008.
Deputy Inspector-General Kenya Police Service, Deputy Inspector-General, Administration Police Service and Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss will take home a gross salary of Sh652,742 with a market adjustment of Sh161,097 respectively.
The National Treasury has allocated Sh27.1 billion in the Financial Year 2023/24 to undertake the exercise.
