MPs eat humble pie on salary plot

Members of Parliament yesterday gave up their pursuit for higher pay as they moved to comply with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s recommendations on the Parliamentary Service Bill.

MPs deleted the clause that prompted the President to return the Bill to Parliament.

The clause would have removed the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) from the ambit of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC). 

Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs resolved to amend the Bill in light of the President’s reservations.

By doing so, the MPs further yielded to the President’s directive that any review of allowances and other perks be done by the SRC.

Offending clause

The clause had provided that for the facilitation of activities held outside the precincts of Parliament by members and staff, their allowances for foreign and domestic travels would be reviewed regularly. 

Members of the committee recommend that the House strikes out the offending clause.

In a memorandum expressing reasons behind the refusal to assent to the Parliamentary Service Bill, Uhuru said the proposal did not take into account or make reference to the role of the SRC.

“The Bill negates the role of the SRC with respect to setting and regularly reviewing the remuneration and benefits of the all state officers, and advising the national and county governments on the remuneration and benefits of all public officers,” wrote Uhuru.

The President’s move is another setback to their appetite on allowances coming after the High Court stopped the lawmakers from paying themselves the Sh250,000 in house allowances. 

The MPs travel bill grew by 88 per cent in the first nine months to Sh3.4 billion after the courts reinstated mileage allowance that SRC had withdrawn.