National Super Alliance (NASA) and Jubilee Members of Parliament (MPs) on Tuesday launched a new tactic to increase their pay in Parliament.
The legislators started a process of amending House rules to increase the size of committees as a way of raising their pay outside the new SRC salary structure.
This will allow each of the 349 parliamentarians to be appointed to at least two committees, where they will earn Sh5,000 per sitting in each of the two committees.
In addition, the frequency of the committee meetings will be high given that under the presidential system of government, the majority of legislative work is carried out in committees.
Majority Leader Aden Duale justified this move arguing that the MPs had realized some gaps in the house committees.
[caption caption="Aden Duale, Kipchumba Murkomen and other Jubilee leaders"]
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"We have realized that we have some gaps, and that is why these members will receive our concerns, we want the Standing Orders amended, and every member of our House can be in two committees," Mr Duale stated.
Minority Leader John Mbadi on his part stated: “The size of the departmental and watchdog committee numbers we have are too restrictive. With 349 members in this House, we need a member to be on at least two committees.”
The ODM Chairman stated that he would propose in Parliament that the departmental and the Public Investments and Public Accounts committees be increased to 19 members. Other committees will increase to 23 members each.
Speaker Justin Muturi supported the move to increase the size and further to this, directed the members of the House Rules Committee to meet on Thursday.
"Hopefully, the leadership will have presented the proposal in writing so that the committee looks at the size of the House and considers those proposals" The Speaker noted.
[caption caption="ODM Chairman John Mbadi"]
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