Govt sets aside Sh3.5bn for police, prisons salary increment.
With the recently passed Supplementary Appropriations Act, 2024, ring-firing 3.5 billion Shillings intended to improve the terms and conditions of officers working in security organs, the government is on track to fulfill its promise of paying police and prison officers more starting this month.
According to a statement from the State House, President Ruto approved the legislation allocating the funds for the purpose of improving compensation in accordance with the suggestions made in the Report of the National Taskforce on Police Reforms, which he headed.
Chief Justice Emeritus David Maraga’s team claims that the gesture will raise the living standards and dignity of security officers.
As per the recommendations of the Report of the National Taskforce on Police Reforms, which was headed, the Bill has allocated Kshs. 3.5 billion to improve the compensation of officers working in different security organs.
Since 2020, there had not been a pay raise for police officers.
Officers will begin receiving a wage increase on July 1st, according to a recent letter from Head of Civil Service Felix Koskei to Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo and his public service counterpart Amos Gathecha, dated July 25.
Last month, President William Ruto reaffirmed the government’s commitment to paying police and jail staff more.
Ruto declared, “We will be living up to our commitment to enhance the salaries of our policemen and prison officers starting this month, in line with the commitment I made to our men in uniform.”
“They will receive the first installment of their salary increment starting this month [July],” he said at the State House at the Commissioner General of the Prisons Service’s swearing-in ceremony.
This indicates that in addition to law enforcement and prisons, the National Youth Service anticipates pay increases.
On May 17, the National Treasury’s failure to provide funding for the report’s actualization caused a halt in the Maraga taskforce’s recommendations’ execution.
The National Assembly’s committee on Administration and Internal Security received budget estimates from the National Police Service (NPS) that were drastically lower than the Sh15 billion that was originally allocated for the report’s execution.
The committee was advised by NPS financial officer Bernice Lemedeket to demand additional funding in order to improve the performance of the police staff, which was exhibiting subpar performance as a result of difficulties.
“We kindly request your consideration of the underfunded areas as indicated in the report and pledge to use the funds responsibly in an economical, efficient, and effective manner to improve NPS’s service delivery,” the spokesperson stated.
Ruto appointed the Maraga team in December 2022 to lead the implementation of changes across the three services.
One of the committee’s main recommendations, headed by Maraga, was to raise police officers’ pay by 40% over the following three years.
This implies that an officer will receive Sh6,000 extra if they are already making Sh15,000.
The team suggested that, based on the current compensation, the base pay for all three Services’ members be increased by 40% at the lowest constable level using a decompression ratio.
The Taskforce suggested a new provision for non-uniformed NPS members to enhance their terms and conditions of service, considering their workplace.
It advocated for the National Police to have more funds. The money will go toward equipping and modernizing the police.
Depending on the operation being carried out, they also want the fuel budget to be increased. Justice Maraga also demanded that police training institutions and police stations upgrade their operational and physical facilities.
Govt sets aside Sh3.5bn for police, prisons salary increment
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