Confusion over SRC circular on civil servants house subsidy

Confusion is raging whether the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has issued new housing allowances for civil servants.

It has emerged that SRC says that a story published in one of the local dailies was incorrect and that the Commission had not issued circulars to communicate a raise in allowances.

SRC also indicated that it will issue a circular as far as allowances are concerned in due time, even as it stated that it is currently reviewing information it received from a public participation in December

“Please note that the story is incorrect. We have not issued any circulars as purported,” SRC said.

The new rates reported saw the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) respond with Secretary General, Akelo Misori (above) stating that the said SRC circular had sowed more confusion than order in the public service.

“Even thought the media has misinterpreted and overplayed the circular as increasing civil servants’ house allowances, the reality is that the SRC has merely confirmed existing benefits that most officers already enjoy,” said Misori, in a press conference held in Nairobi yesterday.

“The circular leaves intact yawning gaps in the remuneration of public service that the SRC was created to establish, “ he added.

Misori had also indicated the circular contained nothing new in any of the remuneration packages it dealt with, including house allowances saying some of those indicated as new were awarded to teachers several years ago.