Polygamy Proving a Headache for MPs

Members of Parliament who have more than one spouse are part of elected leaders pushing for a pay rise in a scheme that will see the Parliamentary Service Commission award elected leaders handsomely.

A move by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to limit the public servants’ spouses entitled to the health cover to only one and at most only four children under the age of 25 is at the center of the controversy.

The MPs, in a proposal by the Services and Facilities Committee, also seek to give themselves a higher pay, hire five-star hotel chefs in their cafeteria and install new bridles in their toilets.

[caption caption="Speaker Justin Muturi "][/caption]

While the Parliamentary Service Commission is more likely to give a nod to the request, the reconstituting Salaries and Remunerations Commission stands in the way of the MPs.

It is, however, a matter of time since politicians who lost in the last General Election are among those listed to take over from Sarah Serem at SRC.

In July last year, the Serem-led commission slashed MPs pay by at least Sh90,000 to Sh621,000 for the current members of the House. Their current pay is only two-thirds of what the Cabinet Secretaries earn.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has also, through an executive order, directed that the SRC, an independent institution is placed under the National Treasury.

The MPs argue that the move to increase their pay is aimed at ensuring they serve without straining. Also in their wish list is a push for additional allowances.

The elected leaders say they should be entitled to a house allowance separate from the mortgage they are currently enjoying. In their view, the mortgage is only a loan that they pay back as opposed to house allowances.

Currently, the legislators have a Sh20 Million mortgage attached to a three percent interest per annum. They are mandatorily required to clear the loan within their five-year term in office.

[caption caption="Sarah Serem in an address to the press"][/caption]

This is in addition to their Sh5 Million car grant and Sh5,000 sitting allowance that had been revoked by SRC. National Assembly Speaker Justine Muturi, who also doubles up as the PSC chairperson, had moved to SRC to have these perks reinstated.