The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has defended the push by Members of Parliament (MPs) to enjoy hefty perks and privileges.
Speaking to the press in Malindi on Sunday, September 25, Atwoli claimed that the low pay pushes the MPs to become con artists.
He explained that more often than not, the lawmakers are forced to share their salaries with their constituents and could likely resort to wayward means to recover their money.
"Our MPs are unique because so many people depend on them and there are a lot of projects they initiate in their constituencies. When you curtail them from earning what gives them their dignity, you are doing them a disservice.
"It is our duty as taxpayers to make sure that they do not become conmen or do some other business that is not expected of them," Atwoli remarked.
The COTU boss further called out the Salaries and Remunaration Commission (SRC) for doing away with allowances. He reiterated Speaker Moses Wetangula's sentiments, maintaining that lawmakers were entitled to the allotments.
"Our leaders must have allowances appear well, dress well, must have nice cars, must be able to speak, and represent the lowly placed Kenyans. This cannot be done when you are a beggar," he recommended.
Atwoli further criticized the Supreme Court over its decision to declare the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), which was managed by MPs, as unconstitutional.
He argued that funds have previously been used to initiate programmes that have benefitted many Kenyans including paying tuition fees for students attending school.
During their induction in Nairobi, lawmakers clashed with SRC chair Lyn Mengich over the scrapping of allowances.
Among the concerns by MPs was the limiting of medical insurance to one spouse and suspension of the sitting allowances.
On September 22, Chief Justice Martha Koome gave her two cents on the CDF debate. The Supreme Court maintained that CDF violates the division of functions between the county and national government.
"The CDF offends the division of functions between the county and national govt. To allow a CDF an instrumentality of the national govt to undertake functions devolved to the county," Koome stated.
