President William Ruto’s Senior Advisor on Constitutional and Human Rights, Prof. Makau Mutua, has revealed that his salary package is equivalent to that of a Cabinet Secretary.
Speaking during an interview on Wednesday, Mutua disclosed that his monthly earnings fall between Ksh700,000 and Ksh800,000, though he declined to provide an exact figure.
“I am paid the equivalent of a Cabinet Secretary,” he stated, after initially dismissing the question as irrelevant. For context, as of July 1, 2024, a Cabinet Secretary’s gross monthly salary is about Ksh990,000, inclusive of basic pay, house allowance, and market adjustment. By comparison, CEOs of top parastatals such as the Kenya Pipeline Company earn around Ksh903,300 monthly.
Mutua’s disclosure comes amid public debate over the growing number of presidential advisors. President Ruto has appointed close to 20 advisors since taking office, a figure nearly matching the number of Cabinet Secretaries, with most reportedly earning similar pay packages.
Some of the notable appointments followed the signing of the 10-point agenda Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga. Mutua, who served as Odinga’s campaign spokesperson and was once a fierce critic of Ruto, was appointed Senior Advisor in April. Odinga’s nephew, Jaoko Oburu Odinga, son of Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga, was also tapped as a Special Advisor on Economic Empowerment and Sustainable Livelihoods.
Until his resignation two months ago, former Trade CS Moses Kuria also served as Ruto’s Senior Economic Advisor. He stepped down after the Saba Saba protests, saying he needed time to reflect and remain neutral during what he described as “hazy times.”
Despite criticism over his political shift, Mutua has defended his role in government, recently taking up an additional position as chair of the Protest Victims’ Compensation Committee. He dismissed claims that he was shielding the government from accountability, insisting he would only resign if his conscience no longer aligned with the President’s vision.
“If things happen that I am not happy with and my conscience cannot live with, I will move out because I will not be of any use to the government or the President,” Mutua affirmed.
