HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 47423,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/47423/?format=api",
"text_counter": 305,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Otieno",
"speaker_title": "The Minister of State for Public Service",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to add my voice in support of this Bill. The Minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs will be responding to debate. I want to thank him for having ably moved debate on this Bill. This is a very important Bill for the public sector human resource reforms that we are undertaking in this country. We are introducing a performance-based management system, which gives emphasis on performance and productivity, and focuses on delivery of service to citizens. We need to be able to be fair to all the employees in the public sector. The system that is currently in place is such that those who are powerful enough are able to increase their benefits, and the weak ones have to struggle far behind them. This is something which has led to serious inequalities within the public service itself. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, as you are aware, we have serious income inequalities in the whole economy. This is becoming a cause of very serious social problems, which have to be rectified. The public sector, as the major employer, would have to set the pace in making sure that the principle of equal pay for work of equal value to the country is enforced. This Bill will make this possible by empowering the commission it seeks to create to look at salaries and the remunerations of workers throughout the Public Service. For State Officers, the commission will set their salaries and remuneration. For other public officers, or any other person paid from public funds, the commission will be able to make appropriate recommendations. The Constitution has provided for the composition of The Salaries and Remuneration Commission, bringing on board 14 members comprising of members from the Public Service Commission, the Parliamentary Service Commission, the Teachers Service Commission, the Judicial Service Commission, the National Police Service Commission, the Defence Council and the Senate, which will represent the counties. Other members will be representatives from the Kenya Federation of Employers (FKE), the COTU and the Association of Professional Societies. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Constitution specifies that these bodies shall not appoint their members to this commission. We expect them to competitively and transparently recruit professionals who fit the bill of a highly technical commission, which will be backed by in-depth research, analysis and evaluation of work in the economy as a whole before we set the scales. Given the manner in which we are reforming the Public Service in this country, we hope to, finally, be the employer of choice. This will only be possible if we continue to emphasise productivity, performance, service delivery and focus on the needs of the citizens. To be able to do so, we have, for a long time, needed a commission of this kind to be able to harmonise remuneration in the Public Service. We all know that as at now, work of equal value to the economy is not something to determine. It will take research, analysis and measurement to do so. We look forward to the productivity centre, under the Ministry of Labour, to also come on board with adequate legislation to be able to undertake research in productivity measurements in the economy. We are committed, under Vision 2030, to have a globally competitive economy, which will be growing continuously. To be able to do so, this emphasis is critical. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the principles that this commission will be using include ensuring fiscal sustainability of the compensation. If we leave it to bargain by the powerful, regardless of whether that is fair, and fiscally sustainable--- It will be a matter of how much muscle you have to force your way through. Of course, people have made reference to the salaries of Members of Parliament. Members of Parliament have been challenged to perform and become virtually jacks of all trades in the public sector as well as in the management of the economy; their work has become the most difficult to evaluate. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I hope that the commission will be able to come up with a criteria by which it will be able to give the right advice on diverse job descriptions in this country. This will evolve out of a long practice like that which has made the Member of Parliament everything. For example, you may find that, today, the Member of Parliament is labour exchange; tomorrow, he might be a funeral advisor; on the day after tomorrow, he might be a fundraiser; on the day after that, he may be a builder of bridges; on the next day, he might be the one to look after orphans and, finally, he is challenged to take responsibility for everything. Therefore, I expect the commission being created through this Bill to have enough detail and technical skills to be able to carry out all the evaluation that may be necessary in determining what should be regarded as pay for work of equal value. I am sure that, given the support that this Bill has received up to now, it will be possible for us to have reasonable wage levels in our economy. It will also be possible for us to ensure stable industrial relations in the country. It should be possible for the Public Service to attract and retain competent personnel who will be committed to public service delivery. It will be possible for us to ensure fairness, and transparency in the management of remuneration in the economy. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have sought to add a few more of the powers and functions that have been given to the commission, based on the experience of the Pay Review Board. We know that the additional powers we are requesting for this commission are necessary for it to be competent in giving the right advice, as well as in setting and reviewing pay to State officers. Some controversy has come out of Clause 11; we are asking for an expanded benefit. I would not mind if this clause was amended, so that the commissionâs functions, under this clause, are not just to inquire and determine. The use of the word âdetermineâ in this case is confusing, and it seems to be final. It should be to âinquire and advise.â So, such an amendment will be acceptable to us because it will not seriously curtail the functions of the commission. So, if the amendment is proposed by the relevant committee, we will have no objection to it. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the governance structure of the commission proposed under this Bill is not different from the structures of all other commissions, except that this being a commission with a membership of 14 persons from different stakeholders, it really suits its members being on part-time basis, with a highly technical and professional secretariat. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, this governance structure which is in most of the independent constitutional commissions is very fair. Parliament will be at the top and the commission will report to Parliament through reports. I expect Parliament to determine how these reports will be evaluated and the commission as a whole held accountable to Parliament. The reports will be given to both the Senate and Parliament in addition to the President. Then, the commission through procedures, codes, regulations and documents that it needs to govern its operations, will direct the secretariat of professional staff to look into issues of salaries and remuneration. This governance structure is ideal for a commission like this so that the issue on whether there should be part time or full time commissioners would not arise, particularly with regard to this commission. At any time, the chairperson and the deputy chairperson of any of these commissions would always be available to be consulted by the management in terms of the implementation of any guidelines and policies that such commission has set for the secretariat to use. I am happy with the trend the Bill is taking and I beg to support."
}