New SRC boss Ali Abdullahi Surraw sworn in

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.

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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.