In a statement released by State House on Wednesday afternoon, Uhuru said that while the independence of Parliament should not be interfered with, the MPs should also respect the mandate of the SRC as established in the constitution;
“While acknowledging the independence of our Parliament, the Constitution explicitly mandates the Salaries and Remuneration Commission to set and review the salaries of all state officers. It is the expectation of the people of Kenya that independent constitutional institutions including Parliament must respect the institutional arrangements and division of mandates in our Constitution,” reads the statement.
Uhuru also called on the MPs to engage the SRC in dialogue so as to resolve the salary dispute in as amicable way as possible;
“I therefore urge Parliament to engage the Salaries and Remuneration Commission in a constructive manner with a view to resolving this matter,” reads the Parliament.
The President also called on other public officials to continue respecting the SRC’s determinations on salaries;
“For the avoidance of doubt, all state officers in the Executive will continue to abide by the determination of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission. PPS 29th May, 2013.”
SRC chair Sarah Serem today said she and her team would not bow to the MPs’ demands;
“It is a job we have to do and we’ll do it to the best of our ability. It is a task that requires the cooperation of every Kenyan who has the interest of the country at heart,” she said.
“The task we are handling is not about SRC. It is about Kenya and its sustainability. It is about our ability to use the resources of this country to benefit the majority of Kenyans. It is about the posterity of this nation. It is about the future of our children and the legacy we want to leave to the future generations.”
