County Speakers Move to Court Seeking Personal Car Alongside Official Vehicle
SRC faces court battle over delayed car grants for county assembly speakers.
The Background
The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) is a government agency responsible for determining the salaries and allowances of public officials in Kenya. The SRC has been in the news lately due to its handling of the county assembly speaker’s request for a one-time car grant. The commission has been accused of being slow in responding to the request, leading to a court case being filed against it.
The Request
The Court Case
The first notice, dated July 2022, was issued to the University of Ghana’s (UG) Department of Computer Science and Engineering.
The Petition Against the SRC Gazette Notice
The petition, filed by a group of students, challenges the SRC (Student Representative Council) gazette notices issued in July 2022 and August 2023. The notices, which were intended to regulate the use of the university’s computer systems, have been met with resistance from students who feel that they infringe on their rights and freedoms.
Key Issues with the Notices
The Petition’s Demands
The petition, which was filed in September 2023, makes several demands that are aimed at addressing the concerns of the students. These demands include:
Politicians’ use of county assembly vehicles sparks heated debate over personal benefits and asset ownership.
The Controversy Surrounding the County Assembly’s Official Car
The controversy surrounding the county assembly’s official car has been a topic of discussion for several years. The issue has sparked heated debates among politicians, with some arguing that the car is a personal benefit, while others claim it is a county assembly asset that must be returned once they leave office.
The Debate Over Personal Benefits
The County Assembly’s Perspective
Speaker seeks to quash transport benefits for MPs, alleging unfair favoritism.
The Background of the Speaker’s Petition
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetangula, has petitioned the court to quash the gazette notices issued in 2022 and 2023 regarding transport benefits for Members of Parliament (MPs). The petition, which was filed in the High Court, seeks to have the gazette notices declared null and void, arguing that they unfairly favor deputy speakers and Members of County Assembly (MCAs) over the regular MPs.
The Allegations Against the Gazette Notices
The Speaker’s petition alleges that the gazette notices were issued without proper consultation with the House leadership and that they do not accurately reflect the current transport benefits policy. The petitioners claim that the policy unfairly benefits deputy speakers and MCAs by providing them with more favorable terms and conditions, such as higher allowances and more favorable travel arrangements. Key points of contention: + The gazette notices were issued without proper consultation with the House leadership.
The Allegations Against SRC
The allegations against SRC (Semi-Permanent Resident Committee) have sparked a heated debate in the county assembly. The committee, responsible for managing transport benefits for county assembly leaders, has been accused of favoring certain individuals over others. Key accusations include:
- Allowing deputy speakers and MCAs to choose their preferred vehicles
- Creating unfair disparities in how transport benefits are allocated among county assembly leaders
The Impact on County Assembly Leaders
The allegations have significant implications for county assembly leaders, who rely on SRC for their transport benefits. If the allegations are true, it could lead to:
Concrete Examples
To illustrate the impact of SRC’s alleged favoritism, consider the following examples:
The Response from SRC
SRC has denied the allegations, stating that the allocation of transport benefits is based on a transparent and fair process.
