The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) is accused by the 47 county public service boards of underpaying them and placing them in lower-paying positions, and they have launched a lawsuit asking to be paid twice as much as they are currently paid.

The National Consultative Forum of County Public Service Boards accuses the SRC (Salaries and Renumeration Commission) of failing to recognize them as State officers, resulting in their losing benefits and gratuities despite being hired in a competitive process.

Members of the County Public Service Board are, in accordance with Article 260 of the Constitution, effectively State officers, just as their counterparts on the Public Service Commission, the petition claims.

According to the boards, their county equivalents are paid Sh340,733, which is less than their PSC counterparts, whose chairperson receives a gross salary of Sh765,188.

The county chairperson is eligible for Sh2 million in medical coverage, compared to the PSC chairperson’s up to Sh10 million for inpatient care.

Additionally, PSC staff members are given official transportation and a housing stipend. In addition, they claim that the vice chairwoman of the PSC earns Sh650,000 while the vice chairman of the county receives Sh243,967.

The SRC is accused by the county public service boards of hiding remuneration from a July 27, 2022, Gazette Notice that set PSC member wages.

In the petition, it is claimed that the respondent violated Article 230(4) of the Constitution by usurping the authority of the County Public Service Boards and attempting to determine the salaries and benefits of county public servants.