The Katiba Institute has formally written to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) requesting information on MPs and Senators' terms of employment.
Through the request dated March 30, the organisation took a specific focus on the salaries of Members of the National Assembly, on which they seek clarity on several grounds.
"Katiba Institute (KI) has written to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) seeking information concerning the terms of employment for Senators and Members of the National Assembly. This request is under Article 35 of the Constitution and the Access to Information Act Cap: 7 M, Laws of Kenya," a statement from the organisation read.
The Institute said they made the request to the SRC under Article 35 of the Constitution of Kenya and the Access to Information Act, which allows citizens to seek and obtain information meant to be in the public domain.
In its letter to the SRC, the research and litigation institution sought clarity on whether the commission has conducted comparative labour market surveys as required by law to determine the salary scales of state officers.
Further, the institute also wanted to know whether any formal recommendations were made to the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) as far as salaries and benefits for Senators and MPs since 2011 were concerned.
The institute also noted that there was a grey area on whether parliamentarians are considered full-time or part-time employees.
Separately, Katiba Institute also requested a copy of the actual employment contract for Senators and MPs, which detailed their terms of service, salaries, benefits, and allowances.
The question of MPs' and Senators' salaries has been a contentious one for years, with Kenyans scrutinising the leaders' perks. In 2024, the proposed salary increase for Kenyan lawmakers ignited widespread discontent among citizens who questioned the timing and rationale behind the move.
More recently, a report emerged suggesting lawmakers would get a pay raise effective April 1. The pay hike would also include a fixed monthly mileage allowance.
This essentially means 416 MPs in the National Assembly and Senate will cost taxpayers Ksh4.4 billion between April 1 and the next general election.
SRC Secretary and CEO Anne Gitau stated in a letter to the PSC that the pay rise was approved at the SRC meeting on March 20, 2025, following a request.
