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{
    "id": 47398,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/47398/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 280,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Kenneth",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister, Ministry of State for Planning, National Development and Vision 2030",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 167,
        "legal_name": "Peter Kenneth",
        "slug": "peter-kenneth"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me an opportunity to also add my voice in support of this very important Bill. From the beginning when some of us went out there to campaign for the new Constitution, one of its strengths - in the view of some of us, other than other sections within the Executive and Devolution - was on the Salaries and Remuneration Commission Bill. For a long time, various sectors in our country have felt that other sectors were looking after themselves much more. In fact, this institution known as Parliament has been on the spotlight on salaries and remuneration issues. We have also had instances where we have hired senior technocrats who are our brothers and sisters and have ended up getting very high salaries which are not in harmony with what their colleagues in the same positions have been earning. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, you will remember that we had the Dream Team and some of the salaries that were offered to the members of the Dream Team, most of whom joined the Civil Service nearly caused disharmony within the Civil Service itself. We had some Permanent Secretaries who were earning about Kshs2 million and others earning about Kshs400,000. There were such huge disparities. I know that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has also said that it would like to maintain its remuneration committee, but I want to appeal to them that one of the roles of this Commission is to have an equalizing factor within all the sectors in our country, so that the disparities that might be in one sector will not be in another and Kenyans can finally feel that the ceilings have been well deliberated and looked into by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission. In the same view, we hope that we can reduce the size of the Government so as to be able to pay civil servants better salaries so that they can remain professional civil servants. As we move forward and require more service delivery to be offered by the Civil Service, we must ensure that all the sectors that offer services within the Government are well looked after. The only one who can look after them better will be this Commission. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have civil servants who want to leave the Civil Service and join quasi-Government bodies like the parastatals or semi-autonomous Government bodies or agencies because of low salaries, yet they go and serve the same Government in other capacities. Therefore, it is very important that we have an equalization factor by way of a Commission, so that any civil servant who is in a parastatal, a semi-autonomous Government agency, the mainstream Civil Service or the TSC feels that they are adequately taken care of. There has been perception - some of it might be correct - that in the Judiciary and in the National Assembly, we have looked after the Members better than we have looked after the society. As we insist on having a just society, it is good that as Members of Parliament, we also accept to be subjected to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission. It has been felt that constitutional office holders and Members of Parliament have not been subjected to taxation because they have taken care of themselves alone. All this can be sorted out by this Commission. We should accept that this will be the driving force within the labour force because the Government is the biggest employer. Let us accept that this Commission will articulate the views of the Government by equalizing the manner in which salaries and disparities are set and the manner in which harmonization of salaries can be achieved for all Government workers. As I conclude, I know a few of my colleagues are worried about the independence of this Commission. It is upon us to ensure that there is total independence of this Commission, so that it can take root as quickly as possible. With those few words, I beg to support."
}