KEMSA Chairman Irungu Nyakera Breaks Down His Monthly Salary: "Take Home Is Less Than 100k"

• According to Irungu Nyakera, his compensation at KEMSA includes an honorarium of KSh 52,000
• He also gets three net allowances: airtime (KSh 7,000), sitting allowance (KSh 13,000), and lunch allowance (KSh 2,000), summing up to KSh 74,000
• Nyakera argued that being a chairman is not a job and the earnings are honorary

Elijah Ntongai, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, leverages more than three years of expertise in financial, business, and technology research, providing insights into both Kenyan and global economic trends.

Irungu Nyakera, the Chairperson of the Board of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), has disclosed details about his income as the chair of the board.

Nyakera revealed that his net income at KeMSA, comprised of various allowances, amounting to less than KSh 100,000

He noted that this is significantly lower than the salaries earned by Members of the County Assembly (MCAs).

Why did he disclose his earnings?

Nyakera tweeted a breakdown of his earnings in response to suggestions by Kenyans on X that his job comes with considerable financial benefits.

"Chairmanship is not a job, it’s a responsibility. I don’t earn a salary," Nyakera said on X.

This was followed by another question from a Kenyan questioning Nyakera's statement due to various allowances afforded to board members in government agencies.

"What of chairing, airtime, house, extraneous, responsibility, traveling, lunch/breakfast, oversight allowances and other benefits including hefty health cover, connection to employ n other insurances. Bwana doing voluntary work in such a position is not explainable," said @Maquiz_W on X.

How much does Nyakera earn?

According to Nyakera, his compensation at KEMSA includes an honorarium of KSh 52,000, in addition to three net allowances: airtime (KSh 7,000), sitting allowance (KSh 13,000), and lunch allowance (KSh 2,000), summing up to KSh 74,000.

He further broke down the figures, stating that if there are two meetings in a month, the take home is less than KSh 100,000 for any chairman.

Medicine, 9 other lucrative jobs in Kenya

Earlier, TUKO.co.ke listed ten jobs in Kenya that pay over KSh 150,000 per month, and surgeons and doctors top the list.

Surgeons and doctors take home an average of KSh 546,000 monthly, with their salaries ranging from KSh 284,000 to KSh 846,000.

"A surgeon's profession involves high risk and requires extensive knowledge and a long learning path; the necessary ingredients for a high-paying career," said Salary Explorer, a salary comparison and career resources website for employees and employers.