No Salary Increment for Teachers and Civil Servants If Court Rules Otherwise
The outcome of the Court’s decision on Finance Act 2023 next week will have a significant impact on the fate of the salary increases for teachers and civil officials in August.
On August 13, 2023, three judges will render a decision that will determine whether the government will put President Ruto’s directive for public servant compensation increases into effect.
Teachers and government employees can expect a wage increase in August with arrears retroactive to July 1.
The Court of Appeal lifted a conservatory order on the Finance Act, allowing for its implementation despite the Act’s suspension.
If the injunction is not withdrawn, there will be irreparable economic implications, Justices Mohamed Warsame, Kathurima M’inoti, and Hedwig Omondi noted.
The judges ruled on Friday, “The upshot of our decision is that the application has merit and that the same is allowed as prayed with the effect that the order made on July 10, 2023, suspending the Finance Act 2023, and the order prohibiting its implementation, be and is hereby lifted pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.
The justices decided that the act cannot be blocked permanently due to the impact it will have on already-strapped revenue and government spending.
The justices did state in their decision that all parties must abide by the appeal’s final decision, which would be announced the following week.
The Finance Act is being contested in court by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).
President William Ruto stated that the 7% to 10% pay increase for teachers and civil personnel is intended to protect public employees from the difficult economic conditions.
Also Read: Teachers’ Salary Increment to be Effected in August With Arrears
No Salary Increment for Teachers and Civil Servants If Court Rules Otherwise
Dr. Ruto commanded that the compensation increase take effect on July 1st, 2023. This indicates that new salaries for teachers and government employees were to start at the end of July, when the July salaries were to be paid.
However, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) blamed delays in computing the increases for the non-payment in July.
After completing the public engagement process, SRC has finished the compensation evaluation.
In order for government agencies like TSC and the Public Service Commission (PSC) to execute the rise, the commission will publish the new salary in the gazette.
“The implementation date of the increase is crucial. Even if they don’t receive the rise this month, they will still receive it later, after July, according to a source at SRC.
However, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) indicated that the Finance Act 2023’s passage was a condition for the teachers’ salary increase in July.
According to Kuppet Secretary-General Akello Misori, the execution of the Finance Act 2023 will determine how much instructors will be paid.
However, he accused both the SRC and the TSC of failing to reach a deal in time, which prevented teachers from receiving their July raises.
In May, Kuppet and SRC allegedly conducted a five-hour “consultative meeting” in State House with Dr. Ruto, during which the President reportedly gave officials the assurance that teachers will receive a minimum 10% wage increase “upon the passage of the 2023-2024 Finance Bill.”
This is problematic because we might be surprised to learn that it’s not 10% or 12% as we had anticipated; in such case, we have been duped, he said.
