MPs put SRC on notice after approving Chepkwony as chairperson

Members of the National Assembly have put on notice the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) chairperson Sammy Chepkwony after approving his nomination to serve for the next six years.

During the special sitting on Thursday, January 16, 2025, the leader of the majority party in the National Assembly Kimani Ichung’wah stated that SRC must not only balance the public interest but also pay elected leaders their rightful pay without playing to the public gallery.

“349 members of parliament and another 67 senators out of 45 million Kenyans also deserve to be paid. SRC must therefore be cognizant that they are working to balance public interest and also not demonize people in other public institutions,” Ichung’wah remarked.

On his part, the leader of the minority party in the National Assembly Junet Mohamed equally observed that the role of elected leaders is often construed to be a walk in the park yet it is tasking.

MPs’ prestigious jobs

“The most prestigious thing you see with an MP is when the escort opens for you the door. People think that that is the most important thing but it (the job) is a very daunting task. You have to think of your constituents, Kenyans and pass the right laws,” Junet noted.

“But the SRC may think these are just a bunch of jokers seated somewhere in the afternoon in air-conditioned halls where they just say anything they want,” he continued.

“Wait until the next elections arrive; you will see every constituency has at least 20 aspirants. If the job is that useless, why are people going for it,” he quipped.

War to SRC doorstep

“I want to urge the SRC commissioners to look at things holistically. Let them not be duped that if you deal with politicians is when Kenyans take you seriously,” Junet added.

The remarks come just months after the SRC rescinded a move to review the salaries of public officials upwards following a public outcry during the Gen Z protests of June-July 2024.

Then-chairperson of the commission Lyn Mengich noted on July 3, 2024, that they had decided to suspend the proposed salary increases for public officials after having consultations with the Treasury.

“In consultation with the Treasury, SRC hereby freezes the upward review of salaries for all State officers, and will review the advice for all other public officers, taking into account the current realities of the economy, and a reduced budget to ensure affordability and fiscal sustainability of the wage bill,” she said.