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{
    "id": 1223320,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1223320/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 140,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kathiani, WDM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Robert Mbui",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "As a Member, the commission that represents us is the Parliamentary Service Commission. Article 127(6)(a) has mandated it to deal with matters of Members’ services and facilities. It is very unfortunate that the SRC has continuously encroached on the roles and responsibilities of the PSC and try to usurp its roles. It is important we figure out how to deal with this monster called SRC. Article 230(4)(a) sets the roles and regulations of the SRC. It states that they are supposed to: “(a) Set and regularly review remuneration and benefits of all State officers; and (b) Advise the national and county governments on the remuneration and benefits of all other public officers.\" While doing this, Article 230(5) is very clear that they must follow the following principles: (a) They must check whether the wage Bill is sustainable. (b) They make sure that the pay given to these public and state officers is attractive and competitive enough to attract people or workers to the public sector. (c) Recognise productivity and performance. (d) Have transparency and fairness. It is very shocking to note that salaries of JSC State officers are increased on an annual basis but PSC State officers get stagnant pay. Is that transparent? Is that fair? Why do you treat one State officer different from another? I thank God for the provisions on the SRC. They compel the SRC to present any regulations to this House before they can be acted upon, unlike all other State corporations and implementing bodies. The Statutory Instruments Act that governs the operations of the Committee on Delegated Legislation is very clear about public participation when making subsidiary legislation. Even if there were any invitations, all these commissions are complaining that their views were not taken into consideration. That obviously means you cannot say there is public participation when you call drivers and bodyguards to sign attendance sheets and you do not deal with the matters brought to the commission. I believe there was no adequate public participation that was carried out by this body. Finally, the SRC somehow believes that in carrying out their responsibilities, they have to cut down salaries to size. It is very unfortunate that there is a body that sits down there and figures out how to reduce salaries when we are going through inflation. It is not just reducing salaries. When you deal with mandates of other commissions and affect allowances of other State officers, obviously you are reducing their buying power, therefore creating a situation where they are unable to carry out their responsibilities as they were able to before. You cannot do that at a time when prices of unga and petrol have gone up. It is unfortunate. I think this SRC needs to be stopped. With those few remarks, I support the Committee. I ask that we all support the Committee’s Report. Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker."
}