The newly appointed Commission Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the
Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), Ali Abdullahi Surraw, was on Monday
sworn into office.
The move marked a significant leadership transition at the constitutional
commission mandated with setting and reviewing salaries for state and public
officers.
Chief Justice Martha Koome presided over the
ceremony, congratulating Surraw for emerging as the top candidate in what she
described as a competitive and merit-based recruitment process.
She said his entry into office comes at a pivotal moment for the Commission
and the country.
Koome underscored the SRC’s critical role in
balancing the public sector’s quest for fair and equitable remuneration with
the constitutional principle of fiscal sustainability.
She noted that this delicate equilibrium is essential for the long-term
stability of public institutions and the national economy.
“The Commission must continue to strike a
careful balance between the legitimate expectations of public officers for fair
remuneration and the imperative of fiscal responsibility. This balance is
essential to the long-term stability of our institutions,” CJ Koome said.
She highlighted the Judiciary’s close working
relationship with the SRC, describing it as crucial to efforts aimed at
attracting and retaining highly skilled professionals within the Judicial
Service.
The CJ referenced the Judiciary’s ongoing recruitment drive, noting that the
Judicial Service Commission (JSC) began interviews earlier in the day for
positions in the Court of Appeal.
The process will extend to the High Court, the Environment and Land Court, and
the Kadhis’ Courts.
Koome said the recruitment of additional
judges and the recent appointment of 100 Resident Magistrates forms part of a
broader institutional strengthening initiative designed to improve service
delivery, reduce case backlogs, and enhance access to justice.
She emphasised that such institutional
strengthening requires continued collaboration between the SRC and service
commissions, noting that both bodies are central to ensuring a professional,
motivated, and people-centred public service.
Surraw, who now takes up leadership of the
Commission, assumes oversight of policy direction in public sector remuneration,
an area often marked by competing interests, budgetary pressures, and heightened
public scrutiny.
The Chief Justice urged him to adhere strictly
to the oath of office, reminding him that the position demands diligence,
integrity, and an unwavering commitment to constitutional values.
“The oath you have taken must be your constant
guide. It calls upon you to serve this country with integrity and devotion,
mindful of the immense responsibilities entrusted to you,” she added.
