Acknowledging that a number of decisions and policies of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) have the potential to affect a wide range of individuals, organisations, institutions, national and county governments, businesses and the general economy of the country, SRC actively invests in a wide and robust stakeholder engagement. This engagement is premised upon the knowledge that SRC is a public institution established under Article 230 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, to; a) set and regularly review the remuneration and benefits of all State officers; and b) advise the national and county governments on the remuneration and benefits of all other public officers.
The engagement with various stakeholders is, therefore, a framework that provides SRC with a plan that seeks and facilitates the involvement of a wide cross-section of external parties who are affected by or are interested in SRC’s decisions, or parties willing to provide financial or in-kind support to actualise the goals and mandate of SRC. In addition, SRC actively seeks to establish and maintain good relationships with partners and stakeholders throughout the course of the implementation of its activities, policy decisions and agenda.
The collaboration with the national government ensures better understanding of SRC’s mandate of providing advice and reviewing salaries and benefits of the public service, while ensuring adherence with SRC’s advice. The collaboration extends to the executive, which exercises and executes authority on the national budget. As senior officials in government, SRC works closely with cabinet secretaries, chief administrative secretaries, principal secretaries, and other government officials, to implement its agenda within the public service.
The collaboration with county governments ensures better understanding of SRC’s mandate of providing advice and reviewing salaries and benefits within the counties, while ensuring adherence to SRC’s advice. SRC’s collaboration at the county level extends to all local bodies.
As the legislative branch of the government, the National Assembly and Senate represent the interests of the electorate, makes laws, and places checks and balances upon the executive. SRC’s engagement with Parliament is, therefore, instrumental during law-making and during the national budgetary process. There is a clear complimentary role
The judiciary interprets and applies the law in legal cases, and is an instrumental mechanism for the resolution of disputes. SRC does not shy away from resorting to the courts to seek redress or the interpretation of non-adherence on matters where SRC has issued its decisions, in line with its independence and constitutional mandate.
Constitutional Commissions and Independent Offices (CCIOs) are created through Chapter 15 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. As per Article 249, CCIOs were set up to: (a) protect the sovereignty of the people; (b) secure the observance by all State organs of democratic values and principles; and (c) promote constitutionalism. CCIOs (a) are subject only to this constitution and the law; and (b) are independent and not subject to direction or control by any person or authority. SRC’s collaboration with other CCIOs, within its organised forum of collaboration, reinforces these constitutional provisions.
A State corporation is a body corporate where the government controls majority or all of the shares. SRC collaborates with State corporations on matters within the mandate and role of SRC.
The private sector is the part of the economy that is owned by private individuals, groups, companies, small scale businesses and large scale industries, usually as a means of enterprise for profit purposes. The private sector employs thousands of the Kenyan workforce, and hence, critical for the growth of Kenya’s economy. A number of workers in the private sector are supported by trade unions. The collaboration with the private sector is, therefore, key to the delivery of SRC’s mandate.
The media provides the channels through which SRC communicates its mandate and decisions to its stakeholders and the general populace. The media provides an avenue for quick communication on critical matters affecting all civil servants. The purpose of the close collaboration with the media is, therefore, to establish good relations so as to have a balanced coverage of SRC activities and policy decisions, and for the media to receive timely content from SRC.
Several employers require employees to join professional bodies. The functions of professional bodies vary widely according to how they are set up, organised and their purpose. Several professional bodies provide networks for professionals to meet and discuss within their fields of expertise, and which is key to SRC’s mandate. They are also key to lobbying at high levels for the implementation of various agenda items and providing professional support.
These organisations are part of the society, distinct from government and the private sector. They are mostly independent, humanitarian, voluntary, non-profit and exist to champion for the rights of citizens and other vulnerable groups. It is within the mandate of SRC to champion for State and public officers to receive fair remuneration, as per SRC’s vision. Collaboration with these organisations, therefore, offers partnership opportunities for learning purposes and also for executing SRC’s corporate social responsibility.
Opinion leaders are influential personalities held in high esteem for their ability to interpret various discourses for better understanding, but also to shape the direction of the discourse. SRC’s agenda requires regular communication within the public service on a number of critical decisions. Opinion leaders offer an opportunity to unpack such decisions for the knowledge and understanding of the wider public. Opinion leaders have a flare that causes a change in the people’s opinion or action. The cooperation with opinion leaders is, therefore, useful for SRC’s initiatives.
Trade unions are associations of workers forming a legal unit to ensure they act as bargaining agents for the purpose of representing employees. They are formed to secure improved pay, benefits, working conditions, among others, through bargaining with employers. The purpose of SRC’s collaboration with various trade unions is to seek mutual agreement and collaborative engagement during the four-year Collective Bargaining Agreements review cycle, the support to meaningful consultations, conclusion of Collective Bargaining Negotiations, and to seek good working relations.
The diplomatic community, being a collective body of foreign diplomats accredited to Kenya, promote lasting mutual cooperation and understanding between Kenya and the countries they represent. They also pursue interests in socio-economic development and the implementation of Kenya’s developmental agenda and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. SRC’s collaboration with the diplomatic community, therefore, seeks technical, financial and in-kind support towards the implementation of projects and activities.
With the intention of and interest in promoting socio-economic development and the implementation of Kenya’s developmental agenda and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, development partners support a number of institutions. SRC’s collaboration with development partners, therefore, seeks technical, financial and in-kind support to implement projects and activities.
Universities, research and tertiary institutions hold a wealth of expertise and knowledge on several SRC focus areas. The partnership with such institutions provides students and lecturers with an opportunity to learn and understand the mandate and role of SRC, and ensures they benefit from presentations from SRC’s technical personnel.
The disciplined forces provide an invaluable contribution to the nation. The whole country remains indebted to the disciplined forces for their selfless service. As they are part of the public service, SRC seeks close and mutual collaboration.
The general public comprises individuals who have an interest in ensuring that the taxes they pay are prudently utilised. They also have an interest in the outcome of the setting and reviewing of salaries and allowances of State and public officers, which is an SRC mandate. The purpose of the collaboration with the general public is to inform and sensitise the public on the role, activities, achievements and challenges of SRC, and to seek their support.
