It will now cost Sh4 billion to pay top Kenyan civil servants

Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich

The cost of paying top government officials will cross the Sh4 billion mark in the next year. Treasury has increased the allocation for the salaries of senior officials running the 15 constitutional offices.

Commissioners at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission will get the highest bump in the amount that they take home, largely on account of a significant increase in their allowances this election year.

Estimates prepared by Finance Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich show that the seven commissioners will get a Sh144 million windfall this financial year and a further Sh157 million in 2018.

Their personal allowances will increase to Sh61 million in the 2017-18 financial year compared to Sh50 million in the current one. This is expected to give them adequate facilitation to conduct the elections.

The commissioners will each take home an average of Sh1.7 million although the figure may vary according to one’s position.

The amount that will be paid to constitutional office holders will be Sh4.14 billion over the 2017-18 financial year, up from Sh3.9 billion.

At the same time, Treasury estimates have also handed President Uhuru Kenyatta, his deputy, Mr William Ruto, retired presidents Mwai Kibaki and Daniel Moi, Attorney General Githu Muigai, and all constitutional office holders token increases that amount to Sh200 million.

The Salaries and Remuneration Commission, which is mandated to help cut the government wage bill, will get an additional Sh1 million in the next financial year. The new salary structure that takes effect in July will wire Sh76 million a year into the commission's accounts, up from Sh75 million.

President Kenyatta and his deputy, who had offered to take a 20 per cent pay cut in their second year in power, will get a 10 per cent raise if they get re-elected.

The combined annual pay of the President and Mr Ruto will increase to Sh40.2 million, up from Sh36.6 million. Cabinet secretaries are expected to get a pay increase in July, a month before the election.

Prof Muigai will continue to be the highest paid civil servant, ahead of the President and his deputy, with a monthly salary of Sh2.66 million, a six per cent increase compared to the Sh2.5 million that the AG currently earns.

Auditor General Edward Ouko will earn Sh1.72 million a month, compared to the Sh1.64 million he takes home today.

Salaries in the Judiciary will increase to Sh2.76 billion, compared to Sh2.6 billion. Constitutional office holders in the Judiciary include the Chief Justice, his deputy, judges, and the registrar.