SRC put on spot for faulting salary increment for health workers

Orange Democratic Party(ODM) Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has criticised the Salaries and Renumeration Commission (SRC) for faulting the County Governors who are increasing salaries for health workers over Covid-19.

The Ugunja Member of Parliament(MP) said the latest statement by SRC Chairperson on allowances for the health workers is not only insensitive but depicts the Commission as an outfit that has either lost touch with the reality or is totally idle.

“The SRC must try to be innovative if it’s to regain some iota of relevance. What is so difficult in allowing the County governments to adjust the allowances payable to these workers during the period of the crisis occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic within some broad guidelines, as long as their respective budgets allow, and regularise the same later,” said Wandayi

Seeing that Kenya is facing medical emergencies in the fight against Covid-19, the lawmaker said SRC should allow extraordinary measures to be taken.

In his plea, Wandayi asked SRC to waive income tax for all health workers. He vowed to push the request on parliament’s resumption of sittings.

On April 12, Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua vowed to continue giving incentives to his health workers even after SRC advised governors to ‘consult’ before increasing the salaries.

“Machakos Government will continue to provide allowances to our employees and especiallu our health workers and will even look for other wayss of motivating them. I will not be cowed by letters from people who are not in touch with the reality on the ground,” said Mutua.

Council of Governors Chairman Wycliffe Oparanya backed Mutua’s assertions adding that the governors have not violated any law by promising to give incentives to health workers.

“The county governments that have made proposals to offer incentives have consulted with their County Public Service Boards and the County Assembly to offer such packages,” he said.

Oparanya who is also Kakamega Governor was reacting to a letter from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) chairperson Lyn Mengich which termed the incentives as unlawful as only the salaries’ body was mandated to determine remuneration.