By Judith Gicobi
Serving PSs, former Members of Parliament, and senior corporate leaders expressed interest after the Public Service Commission (PSC) published job openings for Principal Secretaries.
The commission reports that 9,154 people applied for the posts before the deadline on September 27.
The huge volume of applicants is primarily due to the substantial pay and perks Principal Secretaries receive, in addition to the broad authority they have.
PSs are paid a gross salary of Ksh 765,188 per month, as stated in a notice published in the SRC’s (Salaries and Remuneration Commission) Gazette on July 27, 2022.
Along with a wage market adjustment of Ksh 156,075, an official commuter allowance of Ksh 150,000, and a housing allowance of Ksh 150,000.
At the conclusion of their periods of service, they are also paid a gratuity equal to 31% of their base pay for each year worked.
However, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) continued to pay State Officers, including Principal Secretaries, the salaries and perks to which they were entitled beginning in July 2022.
The Lyn Mengich-led commission established a four-year review cycle for pay and benefits in the public service in accordance with Section 11(e) of the SRC Act, 2011, in order to be in line with the nation’s planning and financial processes.
President William Ruto is anticipated to appoint 49 Principal Secretaries (PSs), which is seven more than the administration of his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta.
Taxpayers will have to dig deep into their pockets to pay Ksh5,356,316 per month and Ksh64,275,792 per year for the additional seven PS.
Kenyans will also have to pay at least Ksh321 million in salaries for the seven chief secretaries for the next five years, not including benefits like medical coverage.
According to projections, the 49 PSs will get wages totaling close to Ksh2.2 billion from the Ruto administration over the next five years.
