The Salaries and Remuneration Commission recently scrapped car grants for judges.
Before the creation of the SRC via the 2010 Constitution, judges were entitled to a Sh2 million car grant. Every four years every judge got a new grant to acquire a new car.
In 2011, Francis Muthaura – then head of public service – confirmed the grant as a taxable allowance.
In 2015, Joseph Kinyua – then boss of the public service – enhanced the taxable allowance to Sh5 million. The grant was reviewed upwards, in 2018, to Sh10 million.
But in mid-2022, during pay review, SRC scrapped the orders of 2011, 2015 and 2018, on the grounds the head of public service usurped their mandate.
Though SRC’s move can be seen as an attempt to curb wastage, it’s not fair and does not apply to all state officers.
SRC is being unfair to judges. MPs and independent commission bosses also enjoy car grants.
To be seen to be fair, car grants must be scrapped for all public officers and state officers.
The SRC must justify why it has decided to abolish the perks. SRC did not come into existence in 2022, so its belated action smacks of malice.
Judges, like all constitutional officeholders, must be protected and matters touching on their welfare be left to the Judicial Service Commission to handle.
Quote of the Day: “Let no one think that flexibility and a predisposition to compromise is a sign of weakness or a sell-out.”
Paul Kagame
The President of Rwanda was born on October 23, 1957
