Kenyan President, William Ruto has ordered a review of the proposed pay rise for members of Kenya's cabinet and parliament following public outcry.
It comes a week after mass protests forced Mr Ruto to drop a controversial finance bill that had included tax hikes.
Chairperson of the country’s Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), Lyn Mengich, said the commission would "freeze" the salary increases for state officers due to the current economic realities.
Initially, the SRC had recommended a pay increase of 2% and 5% for all state officials, including judges.
People began questioning how the salaries of politicians, including governors, could be raised when there was a supposed financial crisis.
Ms Mengich said the U-turn came after discussions with the National Treasury.
Last year, the SRC issued a notice, proposing that the increases take effect from the beginning of this month.
But Public Service Minister, Moses Kuria, said he would not implement the increases "as applies" to the cabinet.
Mr Ruto abandoned plans to increase taxes after protesters complained they could not afford to pay them as they were already hit by the sharp increase in the cost of living.
Many said the government should first reduce spending, which President Ruto has vowed to do.
Several lawmakers including Aaron Cheruiyot, a senator from the ruling coalition have called for parliament to reject the pay increase.
An opposition party MP allied with the government, Adan Keynan, expressed a similar view, saying the proposed increase was "tone-deaf".
On Tuesday, the protests appeared to degenerate into anarchy as shops and supermarkets were looted.
Police have published images of 38 people wanted for “engaging in lawlessness”.
Some of the young Kenyans linked to organising the protests alleged that hired "goons" had infiltrated the demonstrations.
They said they were reassessing their strategy and were even thinking of calling off the protests altogether.