County Secretaries across the country have reason to celebrate as the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) recently announced a significant increase in their monthly salaries.

The decision, made during the 537th commission meeting earlier this month, sees county secretaries' salaries rise by a staggering Sh229,250 per month, bringing their total remuneration to Sh404,250.

The adjustment in the remuneration scale comes in response to requests by governors to upgrade the remuneration structure for county secretaries from Grade E2 to E3.

SRC Chief Executive Officer Ann Gitau, in a letter addressed to the governors, outlined the revised breakdown of the county secretaries' remuneration.

Under the new structure, the basic salary for a county secretary has been set at Sh242,550. In addition, they will receive a house allowance of Sh80,000 and a salary market adjustment of Sh81,700.

These components together contribute to a gross pay of Sh404,250 per month.

County secretaries hold crucial responsibilities as they oversee the coordination and smooth operation of all county departments, reporting directly to the governor.

The new remuneration package aims to reflect the significance of their roles and compensate them accordingly.

Aside from the salary increase, county secretaries will enjoy several additional benefits.

They will be provided with official cars not exceeding 2,000cc in engine capacity and comprehensive medical insurance covering one spouse and up to four dependent children under the age of 25.

The medical cover includes allocations of Sh3 million for inpatient services, Sh200,000 for outpatient services, Sh100,000 for maternity expenses, Sh50,000 for dental care, and Sh50,000 for optical care.

Furthermore, county secretaries will be eligible for a service gratuity at a rate of 31 per cent of the annual pensionable emoluments for the term served.

To ensure financial security, county secretaries will also receive life insurance covers valued at three times their annual pensionable emoluments.

The SRC letter, dated June 5, 2023, highlighted this provision, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the welfare of county secretaries.

The new package also extends additional financial support to county secretaries in the form of a car loan of up to Sh4 million, repayable within the contract term, and a mortgage of up to Sh20 million.

These benefits will be administered centrally by the county treasury, adhering to relevant regulations and subject to fund availability.

In addition to the financial perks, county secretaries will receive monthly airtime worth Sh10,000 and an annual leave allowance of Sh10,000.

They will also be entitled to security arrangements as advised by the Inspector General of Police, as well as daily subsistence allowances for local and foreign travels, following the rates determined and advised by the SRC.

The adjustments aim to motivate and attract highly skilled professionals to undertake the demanding responsibilities of county secretaries, ultimately enhancing the effectiveness of county governance across the nation.