{"id":19540,"date":"2024-07-05T14:26:33","date_gmt":"2024-07-05T14:26:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=19540"},"modified":"2024-07-05T14:52:30","modified_gmt":"2024-07-05T14:52:30","slug":"pay-rise-freeze-for-kenyan-mps-after-public-anger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=19540","title":{"rendered":"Pay rise freeze for Kenyan MPs after public anger"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Proposed pay rises for members of Kenya\u2019s cabinet and parliament will not happen after President William Ruto ordered a review of the plans following public outcry.<\/p>\n

It comes a week after mass protests forced Mr Ruto to drop a controversial finance bill that had included tax hikes.<\/p>\n

Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) Chairperson Lyn Mengich said on Wednesday the commission would \u201cfreeze\u201d the salary increases for state officers due to \u201cthe current realities of the economy\u201d.<\/p>\n

Initially the SRC had recommended a pay increase of 2% and 5% for all state officials, including judges.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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People began questioning how the the salaries of politicians, including governors, could be raised when there was a supposed financial crisis.<\/p>\n

The U-turn came after discussions with the National Treasury, said Ms Mengich.<\/p>\n

Last year the SRC issued a notice, proposing that the increases take effect from the beginning of this month.<\/p>\n

But Public Service Minister Moses Kuria said he would not implement the increases \u201cas applies\u201d to the cabinet.<\/p>\n

Mr Ruto abandoned plans to increase taxes after protesters complained they could not afford to pay them as they were already hit by the sharp increase in the cost of living.<\/p>\n

Many said the government should first reduce spending, which President Ruto has vowed to do.<\/p>\n

Several lawmakers \u2013 including Aaron Cheruiyot, a senator from the ruling coalition \u2013 have called for parliament to reject the pay increase.<\/p>\n

Adan Keynan, an opposition party MP allied with the government, expressed a similar view, saying the proposed increase was \u201ctone-deaf\u201d.<\/p>\n

And opposition senator Edwin Sifuna said higher salaries could not be justified \u201cwhen the whole country is saying we need to lessen the taxpayer burden\u201d.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, Samuel Njoroge, clerk of the National Assembly, told the People Daily newspaper that the SRC\u2019s recommendation could not be overturned as they affected all state officers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe changes are normal salary reviews or increments in any organisation,\u201d he was quoted as saying.<\/p>\n

But Mr Ruto has asked the treasury to review the notice.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe president has emphasised that this is a time, more than ever before, for the executive and all arms of government to live within their means, \u201d\u00a0a statement by his spokesman said<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Last week\u2019s protests, led by young people, were the biggest in Kenya since Mr Ruto took office in 2022.<\/p>\n

The demonstrations have since morphed into calls for his resignation and demands that the security forces face justice over the killing of protesters.<\/p>\n

It is estimated by the state-funded rights commission that 39 people have been killed in the demonstrations over the last two weeks.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, the protests appeared to degenerate into anarchy as shops and supermarkets were looted.<\/p>\n

Police have published images of 38 people wanted for \u201cengaging in lawlessness\u201d.<\/p>\n

Some of the young Kenyans linked to organising the protests alleged that hired \u201cgoons\u201d had infiltrated the demonstrations.<\/p>\n

They said they were reassessing their strategy and were even thinking of calling off the protests altogether.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Kenya has been hit by the biggest protests since President Ruto took office<\/p>

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