Members of Parliament are set to debate another controversial bill seeking to improve their welfare and that of their spouses.
The bill tabled in the National Assembly by Eldas Member of Parliament, Adan Keynan, suggests that lawmakers and their spouses should be given diplomatic passports to allow them access privileged treatment and high class lounges when travelling.
The bill termed by some as suspicious, gives parliament the power to deny anyone public information if it compromised national security or interests of Parliament.
Should the controversial bill be passed into law, Parliamentarians risk going to jail for a year or paying a Sh50,000 fine if found guilty of leaking confidential information to any persons not privy to the material.
It further proposes that 'outsiders' must take oaths before getting access to classified information.
Also in an amendment to the Public Finance Management Act, the MPs sought to have control over money obtained through unofficial means such as Parliament investments, gifts or donations and keep it in “The Parliamentary Fund” account.
The same Act stated that the National Assembly would retain any finances unspent at the end of a financial year and would not be returned to the National Treasury.
Another clause to be introduced in the Public Service Bill 2015, suggests Treasury CS Henry Rotich would no longer have the powers to assign accounting officers, but instead the Clerks in both Parliament and Senate would dictate how money should be spent in the House.
This comes against the backdrop of a contentitious bill, also sponsored by Adan Keynan, that sought to gag the media.
The Bill had sought to punish journalists who publish stories 'defaming' Parliament.
