Kenya’s President William Ruto has ordered a review of plans to raise the salaries of members of the cabinet and parliament following a public outcry.<\/p>\n
It comes a week after mass protests forced Mr Ruto to drop a controversial finance bill that had included tax hikes.<\/p>\n
People began questioning how the salaries of politicians, including governors, could be raised when there was a supposed financial crisis.<\/p>\n
The pay increase of between 2% and 5% for all state officials, covering judges as well, was recommended by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).<\/p>\n
It issued a notice last year, proposing that the increases take effect from the beginning of this month.<\/p>\n
But Public Service Minister Moses Kuria said he would not implement the increases “as applies” to the cabinet.<\/p>\n
Mr Ruto abandoned plans to increase taxes after protesters complained they could not afford to pay them as they were already hit by the sharp increase in the cost of living.<\/p>\n
Many said the government should first reduce spending, which President Ruto has vowed to do.<\/p>\n
Several lawmakers – including Aaron Cheruiyot, a senator from the ruling coalition – have called for parliament to reject the pay increase.<\/p>\n
Adan Keynan, an opposition party MP allied with the government, expressed a similar view, saying the proposed increase was “tone-deaf”.<\/p>\n
While opposition senator Edwin Sifuna said higher salaries could not be justified “when the whole country is saying we need to lessen the taxpayer burden”.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Samuel Njoroge, clerk of the National Assembly, told the People Daily newspaper that the SRC’s recommendation could not be overturned as it affected all state officers.<\/p>\n
“The changes are normal salary reviews or increments in any organisation,” he was quoted as saying.<\/p>\n
But Mr Ruto has asked the treasury to review the notice.<\/p>\n
“The president has emphasised that this is a time, more than ever before, for the executive and all arms of government to live within their means, ” a statement by his spokesman said<\/a>.<\/p>\n Last week’s protests, led by young people, were the biggest in Kenya since Mr Ruto took office in 2022.<\/p>\n The demonstrations have since morphed into calls for his resignation and demands that the security forces face justice over the killing of protesters.<\/p>\n It is estimated by the state-funded rights commission that 39 people have been killed in the demonstrations over the last two weeks.<\/p>\n On Tuesday, the protests appeared to degenerate into anarchy as shops and supermarkets were looted.<\/p>\n Police have published images of 38 people wanted for \u201cengaging in lawlessness\u201d.<\/p>\n Some of the young Kenyans linked to organising the protests alleged that hired “goons” had infiltrated the demonstrations.<\/p>\n They said they were reassessing their strategy and were even thinking of calling off the protests altogether.<\/p>\n