This archive report was first published on 18 July 2019.
Kenya's new Attorney General, Paul Kihara, is set to take home a significantly lower salary than his predecessor, Githu Muigai. According to reports, Kihara's annual salary will be approximately Sh. 14.9 million, a 54% reduction from Muigai's Sh. 32.9 million per year.
The reduction in salary is largely due to the fact that Kihara's pay is now governed by the Salary and Remuneration Commission (SRC), whereas Muigai benefited from a non-practicing allowance and other allowances while in private legal practice.
When the SRC was established, it allowed state officers whose pay had been set before the commission's establishment to remain the same. However, Kihara's salary is now subject to the SRC's guidelines, resulting in a significant reduction.
As of July 2018, Muigai's salary was reportedly over Sh. 2 million per year, thanks to the non-practicing allowance and other allowances. In contrast, Kihara's gross salary per month will be Sh. 792,000.
