Members of the National Assembly have directed Treasury CS John Mbadi to consult with Attorney General Dorcas Oduor on the viability of scrapping or reviewing the one-third salary rule following public cries by civil servants about taking home less than a third of their net salaries. The MPs from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) came up with the resolutions after a meeting held on Tuesday to look into the reasons why Kenyans were subjected to many deductions that ended up having an impact on their salaries. Further, the watchdog committee is set to summon the National Treasury CS to explain why thousands of civil servants are taking home less than a third of their net salaries, with many having committed more than the legally allowed two-thirds of their basic pay to loan deductions and statutory obligations.
PAC attributed the steep reduction in take-home pay to increased deductions introduced under President William Ruto's administration, including the Housing Levy, Social Health Authority contributions, and the revised National Social Security Fund (NSSF) rates.
President William Ruto, accompanied by Treasury CS John Mbadi at the Inua Biashara MSME Exhibition at the KICC in Nairobi on October 17, 2024.
PHOTO/ William Ruto During the meeting, the committee chairperson and Butere Tindi Mwale expressed concern over the growing number of government departments flouting the Employment Act, 2007, which is intended to protect workers from being left without adequate income after deductions.
