According to Article 230(4) of the Kenyan Constitution, the powers and functions of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission should be:
- To set and regularly review the remuneration and benefits of all State officers; and
- To advise the national and county governments on the remuneration and benefits of all other public officers.
In performing its functions, the Commission shall take the following principles into account:
- The need to ensure that the total public compensation bill is fiscally sustainable;
- The need to ensure that public services are able to attract and retain the skills required to execute their functions;
- The need to recognize productivity and performance; and
- Transparency and fairness.
- Inquire into and advise on the salaries and remuneration to be paid out of public funds.
- Keep under review all matters relating to the salaries and remuneration of Public Officers.
- Advise the national and county governments on the harmonization, equity and fairness of remuneration for the attraction and retention of requisite skills in the public sector.
- Conduct comparative surveys on the labour markets and trends in remuneration to determine the monetary worth of the jobs of Public Officers.
- Determine the cycle of salaries and remuneration review upon which Parliament may allocate adequate funds for implementation.
- Make recommendations on matters relating to the salary and remuneration of a particular State or Public Officer.
- Make recommendations on the review of pensions payable to holders of Public Offices; and
- Perform such other functions as may be provided by the Constitution or any other written laws.
Apart from the functions of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, it should have powers to:
- Gather, by any means appropriate, any information it considers relevant, including requisition of reports, records, documents or any information from any source, including governmental authorities;
- Interview any individual, group or members of organizations or institutions and, at the Commission’s discretion, conduct such interviews;
- Hold inquiries for the purposes of performing its functions under the SRC Act;
- Take any measures it considers necessary to ensure that in the harmonization of salaries and remuneration, equity and fairness is achieved in the public sector.
In the performance of its functions, the Commission:
- May inform itself in such manner as it thinks fit;
- May receive written or oral statements from any person,
- Governmental or non-governmental agency; and
- Should not be bound by the strict rules of evidence.