President William Ruto on Thursday morning, March 23 presided over the swearing-in of 50 Chief Administrative Secretaries (CAS) at State House, Nairobi.
This was after the National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula on Wednesday, March 22, said the 50 CAS cannot undergo vetting since there is no legal provision requiring the vetting.
However, just a day after their swearing-in, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) on Thursday, March 23, reviewed the new monthly payment for the CAS.
A new SRC advisory to the Public Service Commission (PSC) shows that a CAS’ monthly payments will rise from KSh765,188 to KSh780,000, putting them in the league of Kenya’s top six best-paid officials in the public service.
In a letter to the Public Service Commission, SRC chairperson Lyn Mengich linked the hike in their pay to the commuter allowance, which will be paid at the ‘official’ government rates.
“SRC has determined the monetary worth of the job of CAS at grade F1 and would like to advise on the attendant remuneration and benefits structure,” Mengich said.
During Rtd. President Uhuru Kenyatta’s regime, CAS was earning KSh 765,188 per month but the newly sworn-in officials have overtaken the ministries’ accounting officers by KSh 14, 812 a month.
The current and previous administrations have been seen to use the position to reward loyalists and election losers.
The PSC had directed that CASs be hired under job Group CSG 3, putting them on the same salary scale as Permanent Secretaries.
During their swearing-in, Kenya’s President William Ruto asked the CASs to serve their country with integrity in their individual capacities and fulfill the oaths and promises they took to Kenyans.
“We have people who have served as former governors, as MCAs, and some as bloggers…but today you have joined my team to work for the people of Kenya. Your oath is solemn; I expect you to take it with the seriousness it deserves,” said Ruto.
