By Peter Ochieng
The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (Amendment) Bill No. 21 of 2024 has been read in the National Assembly, for the first time.
Sponsored by Kimilili Member of Parliament (MP) Didmus Barasa, the Bill seeks to amend the Salaries and Remuneration Commission Act, so as to provide for a time frame under which the chairperson and members of the commission shall serve.
The second term legislature wants the chairperson and members of the commission to serve on a part-time basis, for a non-renewable term of 6 years.
Currently, Article 230(2) (a), (b) and (c) of the constitution provides for service on a full-time basis for the chairperson and other members of the Commission, while Article 230 (2)(d) and (e) provides for appointments on a part time basis.
SRC is mandated with among others, setting and reviewing the remuneration and benefits of all State officers, and advising the national and county governments on the remuneration and benefits of all other public officers are done occasionally.
The mover of the Bill argues that it seeks to reduce the operational costs associated with the full-term running SRC, since the chairperson and members of the Commission are not required to perform their duties on a full-term basis.
Still in the corridors of Parliament, Bobasi MP Innocent Obiri has sought for a statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure, regarding re-construction of a collapsed bridge in Nyamache, within Bobasi Constituency pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c).
“Honourable Speaker, the bridge located in Nyamache Town was swept away by flash floods crippling the transportation system. As a critical infrastructure for the residents of Bobasi Constituency, the bridge serves as the principal route between the town and neighbouring towns connecting the administrative and commercial sections of the town,” said the lawmaker.
He informed the House that Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) regional office in Kisii has been slow to react, despite being briefed severally on the situation at hand.
“It is against this background that I seek a statement from the chairperson of the departmental committee on transport and infrastructure on why the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERRA) has taken an inordinately long duration of time to reconstruct the Bridge in Nyamache Town since its destruction by floods was reported in May 2023,” said the MP.
He also sought answers on when the KeRRA would release emergency funds for the immediate reconstruction of the damaged bridge and the timelines within which the bridge will be reconstructed in order to address the plight of residents of Nyamache town.