Kenya: Junior police officer in a go-slow over 28% salary increase

Kenya police : SOme junior officer are grambling over recent 28% pay rise

By Luvei Times Reporter

POLICE operations in Nairobi were yesterday paralyzed after some disgruntled officers protesting against a meager salary increase, tampered with the communication system.

Senior officers were unable to issue instructions via pocket radios since some junior officers were responding through the same media by throwing tantrums back. The officers told their seniors that they would not take instructions unless the salary issue was properly addressed by the Government.

Some senior officers were consequently forced to switch off their radios preferring to use mobile phones instead. Efforts to reach relevant officers for comments were futile, some did not pick up their mobile phones while others said they were held up in meetings.

Radio comminication blocked

However, concerned junior officers confirmed that communication had been destabilized since Wednesday when Internal Security minister George Saitoti awarded them an increment of 28 percent.

“Radio communication has been blocked. Officers are issuing insults to superiors complaining that they will not work because the Government had taken them for a ride by awarding them too little,” an officer told LTM

Immediately after the announcement by Saitoti, a majority of police and prison officers cried foul saying the increase was below exception. Constables earning Shs 11,010 will now receive an additional of Shs 3,000 plus their normal allowance of Shs 7,145. They complained the amount would be reduced after being subjected to taxation.

“We are not happy, what the minister did not tell you (media) is that the purported increase will be taxed, so there is nothing significant to be happy about,” protested a Corporal. The police are demanding a 50 percent increment, which they believe will be reasonable but not enough given the risky nature of their work.

Staggered over a period

The eagerly awaited salary rise since 2007, is expected to cost the Exchequer Shs 21 billion and will be staggered over a period of three years. The first phase, which is effective this month, will consume Shs 5.1 billion. Nothing was mentioned about allowances – an omission that angered the officers across the country.

The Government has been under pressure for better pay from teachers, civil servants and Members of Parliament. Public Service minister Dalmas Otieno said while the Government would like to double salaries for the police, it was not possible because of different mechanisms used in various departments.

He however, disclosed a standard procedure that will lead to harmonized salaries will soon be rolled out. Saitoti pledged that the second and third phases will enhance basic salaries as well as addressing allowances.

The increase was aimed at taming growing despondency within police and prison services. But officers seemed not to have been appeased, protesting as soon as the Government made the offer. Deputy Commissioners/Commandants and above receive an increase of 25 percent.