The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) suggests that public servants’ salaries should not go over 35 percent of the total money collected.
SRC Chairperson Lyn Mengich talked about worries concerning the government’s high wage bill during a meeting in Nairobi.
She said it makes it hard for the government to provide services even though there’s money available.
Mengich mentioned that currently, nearly half of the money earned goes to paying wages, and over 60 percent is used to pay debts.
“We don’t have a lot of money.
We need money for wages, running the government, developing, and paying international debts.
But we don’t have enough for all of that,” she said.
Public Service, Performance, and Delivery Management Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria also spoke at the meeting. He praised the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) for keeping the Kenyan currency stable.
Kuria said there have been some improvements like lower inflation and better forex cover.
He mentioned that the country has paid off Sh.1.5 trillion in debts because of a stronger currency.
However, Kuria criticized the high wage bill, saying it takes too much money from Kenyans.
He called public servants “vultures and scavengers” who take people’s hard-earned money.
“This isn’t just talk, it’s about being fair and moral,” said Kuria.
He explained that money for development is borrowed, and the interest rates are very high.
“We borrow money to invest because we don’t have enough.
But we pay a lot of interest,” he added.
Kuria urged people to remember that borrowed money needs to be paid back with high interest rates.