Ringera team first casualty of public servants pay cuts

Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission bosses will be the first victims of agitation by Kenyans to have salaries of high-flying government and parastatal chiefs slashed.

The Nation has learnt that the pay for the commission’s senior directors has been cut by 35 per cent. The anti-graft agency’s top organ, the Advisory Board, seems to have caved in to demands by taxpayers and politicians.

On Thursday, President Kibaki appointed a new Advisory Board, approved by Parliament four months ago, but dropped former Mandera Central MP Billow Kerrow from the list to be gazetted on Friday.

On Tuesday, Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara told the House that the President was hesitant to approve the list because he was “uncomfortable’’ with Mr Kerrow.

Give a statement

Mr Kerrow had been nominated to represent interests of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants on the board. Mr Imanyara demanded Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo give a statement to Parliament on the matter. The government will issue one on Thursday.

The first casualties of the pay cut are the proposed new assistant directors, whose nomination Parliament approved on Tuesday. They now await presidential appointment. If appointed, Dr John Mutonyi will be serving another term as assistant director in charge of Investigations and Asset Recovery, while Mr William Shollei will be promoted to assistant director in charge of Finance and Administration.

He has been serving as the chief finance and administration officer. “In this case, Dr Mutonyi will have to contend with a 35 per cent pay cut,” said Mr Allan Ngugi, chairman of the outgoing board. He told the Nation the board’s move was dictated by economic realities.

However, the pay cut will not immediately affect the commission’s chief executive Aaron Ringera, his deputy, Ms Fatuma Sichale, and two assistant directors, whose contracts are still running. The chairman said it would be breach of contract and unfair to cut salaries of Mr Justice Ringera and the other directors, whose terms have not ended.

If their contracts are renewed, the officers will have to get a 35 per cent reduction in their pay. Mr Justice Ringera’s contract ends in September. But Mr Ringera and his team currently in office, are not off the hook yet. Parliament is determined to review their salaries downwards as soon as possible.

Those appointed to the board are Mr John Wanyela of Kenya Bankers Association, Mrs Jacqueline Mugo (Federation of Kenya Employers) and Mr Reuben Koskey (Institute of Engineers of Kenya).

Others are Mr Abdalla Kibwana of the Kenya Medical Association, Suru Tana of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers, Ms Irene Keino of the Architectural Association