AG’s salary cut by half after Githu departure

Prof Githu Muigai. FILE PHOTO | NMG 

By SAM KIPLAGAT

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Summary

• AG’s basic salary and allowances will fall from the current Sh32.9 million a year to Sh14.9 million in the year starting July, reflecting a 54 per cent drop.
• Prof Muigai earned Sh2.7 million monthly, a fat pay cheque equal to the pay of top chief executives of Nairobi bourse listed companies.
• Treasury documents indicate that Paul Kihara’s pay and perks will average Sh1.24 million.

The attorney-general’s pay has been cut by more than half after the exit of Githu Muigai who was the best paid public servant.

Treasury documents indicate that the AG’s basic salary and allowances will fall from the current Sh32.9 million a year to Sh14.9 million in the year starting July, reflecting a 54 per cent drop.

Paul Kihara Kariuki was sworn in as the new AG in March, ending Prof Muigai’s six- year term at the State law office.

Prof Muigai earned Sh2.7 million monthly, a fat pay cheque equal to the pay of top chief executives of Nairobi bourse listed companies.

Treasury documents indicate that Mr Kihara’s pay and perks will average Sh1.24 million.

Prof Muigai appears to have benefited from the fact that he came from private legal practice and the lecture room and would ordinarily qualify for a non-practicing allowance as is the case for lawyers who enter judicial service.

READ: Treasury raises Githu salary allocation to Sh2.7m a month

The Sh2.7 million monthly pay made the former AG the highest paid public official besides the president, whose monthly pay is expected to range between Sh1.23 million and Sh1.65 million in line with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) guidelines.

The Treasury documents offer estimates which may differ slightly from the final amount. The SRC guidelines during Prof Muigai’s tenure put the monthly salary of the AG at between Sh792,000 and Sh1,056,000.

But Prof Muigai benefited from the SRC’s stand that State officers whose pay had been set before the commission was established would continue enjoying the higher pay.