Migori MP Peter Masara Opposes Salary Cuts for Civil Servants

MIGORI – During an event at Ombo SDA Church in Migori Town, Suna West Member of Parliament Peter Masara voiced opposition to the government’s proposal to cut civil servant salaries in an effort to reduce the national wage bill. Masara, a member of the National Assembly’s Budget and Appropriation Committee, expressed his concerns following a church service, urging the government to consider alternative revenue generation methods rather than reducing the incomes of civil servants.

According to Kenya News Agency, the government has already burdened civil servants with significant taxes, including a recently introduced housing levy. He highlighted that further deductions would be unjust, given the existing financial demands placed on this workforce. The government’s strategy aims to lower its wage bill to 35 percent of revenue by 2028, aligning with the Public Finance Management Act of 2012. Data from the International Labour Organisation shows that in 2021, Kenya ranked 151st globally and 22nd in Africa, with 47.3 percent of its revenue dedicated to the wage bill.

Furthermore, Masara criticized the local county governments for excessive spending and called for a clampdown on corruption and tax evasion before targeting civil servants for pay cuts. He also condemned the demands by governors for increased county allocations, criticizing their management of funds and accusing them of heavy spending on non-essential activities, which he claims detracts from development projects.