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{
    "id": 152273,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/152273/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 531,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Githae",
    "speaker_title": "May 26, 2009 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 776 The Minister for Nairobi Metropolitan Development",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 159,
        "legal_name": "Robinson Njeru Githae",
        "slug": "robinson-githae"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the other provision concerns the salaries of the constitutional office holders. It is true that the timing may be wrong but we must take cognizance of the fact that their salaries have not been reviewed since 2001 to the extent that they are not in harmony with the other Government officials. The Permanent Secretaries and the Provincial Commissioners (PCs) are earning more than judges. I think it is not fair. For us not be seen to be unfair to the constitutional office holders, I urge this House to accept those clauses that deal with salaries of constitutional office holders. The solution is what Mr. Musyimi talked about in this House. We need total reform of the remuneration in the public sector. I am one of those who have been saying that we need to do reforms in that section. Those officers in the Public Service who have leverage are able to negotiate better salaries. For example Members or Parliament are privileged and are able to negotiate better salaries for themselves. Teachers are also able to negotiate best salaries for themselves. That applies to judges but what about the magistrate? What about the executive officers and other junior officers in the Government? Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in the Public Service, the most senior officer is the President. So, no person should earn more than the President. Then we need to copy what the United States of America (USA) did for the federal employees. You are given a grade and not a position. There are grades one to 24. So, even if you move from one sector to another one, you go with your grade. For example if you are a Member of Parliament, you are given your own grade. So, you enjoy the allowances that go with that position and if you move to another Government position, you go with your grade and your basic salary. That works well. It means that a public servant can move from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to the Ministry of Nairobi Metropolitan Development. You can move from the Armed Forces to the Civil Service because you move with your grade. It is time to make reforms in the public pay system so that all the sectors move together. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as I have mentioned, the only sectors that are adequately remunerated are the ones who are able to negotiate their salaries. What about those who are not in a position to negotiate their salaries? What are they going to do? That is why you find that there is a big disparity between the top earning official and the lowest earning person. We should also put a provision that no person will earn more than ten times the lowest paid person. If you do that, there will be some basis of fairness. Otherwise at the moment, there is no fairness and that is why there are some people earning more than the President and yet, the President is the overall head of the Public Service. It is time we reformed the Public Service."
}