The Chairman of the Salaries and Benefits Commission (SRC) Lynn Mengich has explained the reason for the advice to pay trainee doctors an allowance of Sh70,000.
Mengich on Tuesday said the commission’s advice that the figure should be adjusted from Sh206,000 to Sh70,000 was based on the principles of affordability, sustainability, justice and equality.
Speaking during an interview with Citizen TV, Mengich he noted that those graduates who are currently earning different amounts will not be affected by the current changes.
Mengich said the SRC gave advice in accordance with its constitutional mandate. He said the constitution gives the commission the authority to advise on payments in any money paid from public funds.
According to Mengich, there has been an increase in the number of graduates and health professionals graduating from various colleges and universities over the years.
With increasing numbers and future sustainability considerations, it is not financially feasible to continue paying them high wages.
The chairman stressed that what is happening is not a reduction as the affected are graduates who have graduated from the university so they do not get any money.
“The first thing is to clarify that there is no reduction because you cannot reduce what you do not have, What we have put in place is a new stipend for graduates who are only being sent so the issue of reduction is not correct because you are only reducing what you have,” he explained.
Mengich emphasized the principles of justice and equality, saying that the highest paid student in the government currently receives Sh25,000.
