Kenya's president says that he and his Cabinet will take pay cuts as part of austerity measures to reduce the government's wages.
President Uhuru Kenyatta said Friday that he and his deputy will take a 20 percent pay cut while his Cabinet and principal secretaries have agreed to reduce their pay by 10 percent.
President Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto make over $150,000 per year, while Cabinet secretaries make $110,00 per year.
The salaries of Kenya's top government officials and lawmakers have sparked anger and protests among poor Kenyans and activists for years.
Mr. Kenyatta said that he is also implementing a new policy to restrict the international travel of government officials to only essential trips.
He said Kenya is spending close to $4.6 billion in salaries each year, leaving only $2.3 billion for development.
Kenya currently spends about 12 percent of its gross domestic product on government workers' salaries.
Last year, following a public outcry, Kenyan lawmakers agreed to a steep salary cut -- from $120,000 per year to $75,000. The lawmakers, however, kept their bonuses to buy a luxury car.
President Uhuru Kenyatta said Friday that he and his deputy will take a 20 percent pay cut while his Cabinet and principal secretaries have agreed to reduce their pay by 10 percent.
President Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto make over $150,000 per year, while Cabinet secretaries make $110,00 per year.
The salaries of Kenya's top government officials and lawmakers have sparked anger and protests among poor Kenyans and activists for years.
Mr. Kenyatta said that he is also implementing a new policy to restrict the international travel of government officials to only essential trips.
He said Kenya is spending close to $4.6 billion in salaries each year, leaving only $2.3 billion for development.
Kenya currently spends about 12 percent of its gross domestic product on government workers' salaries.
Last year, following a public outcry, Kenyan lawmakers agreed to a steep salary cut -- from $120,000 per year to $75,000. The lawmakers, however, kept their bonuses to buy a luxury car.