President Uhuru Kenyatta's attention has been drawn to a scheme to revise the salaries of Members of Parliament at a time the nation is struggling with a bloated wage bill.
The President was on Monday unamused when he learned of reports that members of parliament were allegedly plotting to hike their pay.
Uhuru chided the plans noting that it was unfortunate for the country to be drawn to a debate on lawmakers pursuing better salaries while the electorate was struggling to keep up with tough economic times.
"Mwananchi angekua ametajirika, hatungekua na shida kama mungelipwa ata milioni. Lakini sasa wakenya hawana hata chakula na wewe unataka kuongeza mshahara! Mimi sitaki vita na mtu yeyote lakini kuna mambo lazima tujadiliane.
(If we were a wealthy nation, no one would have a problem even if you wanted to earn a million. Kenyans do not have access to basic needs but you want to increase your salaries! I do not intend to have disagreements with anyone, but there are issues we must discuss)," noted President Uhuru.
Parliament was early this week reported to have drafted the Parliamentary Service Bill 2018, in which they want to mandate the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) to decide how much they earn.
This means the lawmakers will solely and directly write their paycheck, given PSC is just but an arm in the House under the leadership of the speaker of the National Assembly.
Clause 33 of the Bill states: “The employees of the commission shall be paid such remuneration and allowances as shall be determined by the commission.
“The terms and conditions of employees of the commission shall be reviewed every three years or within such a shorter period as the commission may determine.”
During a recent public participation exercise, SRC protested the move by parliament. The commission opposed the amendments, arguing that their advisory role to the government on matters pertaining remuneration of public officers was being snatched away through the Bill.
“This clause needs to be amended to take into account Article 230(4) and the SRC Act on the advisory role of the SRC and the responsibility of determining the review cycle for terms and conditions of employees in the public sector as per the SRC Act No. 10 of 2011,” SRC secretary Anne Gitau submitted in a memorandum to the committee.
SRC, while under Sarah Serem slashed the lawmakers’ salaries from Kshs 710,000 to Kshs 621,250 per month, a decision that came to haunt her during her vetting in parliament.
