Mutunga, Baraza July pay may be delayed

WEDNESDAY, 20 JULY 2011 00:06 BY JILLO KADIDA

CHIEF JUSTICE: Willy Mutunga. Photo/Charles kimani

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Chief justice Willy Mutunga and his deputy might not have a salary for July if the Treasury does not approve a proposal sent to it by the Judicial Service Commission. The JSC came up with a proposed salary for justice Mutunga, his deputy Nancy Baraza and the five Supreme Court Judges and forwarded it  to the Treasury for approval two weeks ago.

According to sources in the justice system, the Treasury was meant to write back to the Judiciary last week but this has not been done as of yesterday. A source in the Judiciary, who did not want to be named due to sensitivity of the matter, said officials from Treasury held meeting with the Judiciary late last month to discuss the issue of salaries for the new offices such as that of deputy Chief Justice and Supreme Court judges.

It was agreed at the meeting that the JSC should come up with proposal for the salaries for the chief justice, his deputy and Supreme Court now that the remunerations committee,  which will be tasked with setting salaries, is not yet in place. In the proposal presented by the judicial service commission to the treasury, the Star learnt that the salary for the chief judge has been increased but it’s not known to how much.

In 2009 the salary for constitutional office holders was revised following the enactment of the Statute Law Act 2009. Under that law, the Attorney-General and Chief Justice were to earn a starting salary of Sh399,440 to a maximum of Sh916,500, the chairman IIEC, PSC, Court of Appeal judges and the Controller and Auditor General between Sh292,765 and Sh576,120 while other commissioners were to get between Sh232,960 and Sh481,381.

Recently the committee on implementation of the constitution demanded that they be paid their dues. The commissioner’s demand received support from justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo who had said the  law was clear that the commissioners will be paid their salaries and allowance by the PSC and the Treasury pending the establishment of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission. Mutua and Abdikadir  said Muthaura has no role to play in the matter.