In a move aimed at streamlining government expenditure and bolstering austerity efforts, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has announced the cessation of six key allowances for state officers. This decision, which comes amidst growing calls for fiscal responsibility, will have far-reaching implications for civil servants across various job categories within Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
Effective immediately, the following allowances will no longer be payable:
- Plenary Sitting Allowance
- Ministerial Allowance
- Taxable Car Allowance
- Retreat Allowance
- Sitting Allowance for Institutional Internal Committees
- Taskforce Allowance for Institutional Internal Committees
An SRC spokesperson revealed that these six allowances had already been discontinued. This move by the SRC reflects ongoing efforts to curtail government spending and align allowances with the principles of fiscal responsibility.
This decision follows a period of tension, during which Members of Parliament had threatened to disband the SRC after the commission proposed the abolition of the plenary sittings allowance for MPs and Members of the County Assembly (MCAs). The MPs contended that this change would significantly impact their income, as they receive allowances for a minimum of four sittings per week.
According to an SRC circular issued in August 2023, the retreat allowance was intended for public officers participating in special assignments, especially those involved in developing and producing policy documents outside their regular offices. In justifying the removal of this allowance, SRC asserted that an individual's capabilities should be assessed during the recruitment phase, rendering additional allowances that do not provide value for taxpayer money unnecessary.
Furthermore, SRC argued that providing a Sitting Allowance for Members of Institutional Internal Committees on top of their basic salaries constituted double compensation.
"Institutional internal taskforces are established to execute the institution's mandate," SRC emphasized.
In June 2023, President William Ruto called on the SRC to explore ways to reduce the salaries of high-ranking state officers in order to address the country's burgeoning wage bill. This move is seen as part of a broader effort to promote fiscal discipline and ensure the efficient use of public funds.