Members of Parliament (MPs) are now demanding to be paid a whopping Sh3.3 Billion for the eight-month period between August 8, when the election will be held, and March 2018, when they claim their term in office expires.
The legislators stated that according to their contract with the people of Kenya and their employer - the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC), their term is supposed to end in March 2018 but following the new election date, this will shortchange them.
On Tuesday, members of the Budget and Appropriations committee were holed up in a meeting with top Treasury officials and PSC to discuss their payment.
According to reports, the lawmakers threatened to shoot down the 2017/2018 budget if the amount was not included.
Apart from this, the MPs highlighted that gratuity must also be included in the pact, bringing the amount each MP will pocket to Sh6.7 Million.
"Gratuity is in law. We have a contract with Kenyans for five years. We have a contract with our employer, the Parliamentary Service Commission. If the gratuity is not paid, we can even go to court to demand the payment," Kisumu East MP Shakeel Shabbir said.
Following the meeting, which journalists were locked out, Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich later divulged: "They are floating numbers, but we have agreed to come up with a team to iron out the issues. They want the issue of their payment looked at."
However, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) boss Sarah Serem was hesitant to nod to the MPs demands citing legal issues would arise if they were paid for months they had not worked.
If the legislators are awarded the amount they are demanding, those who get re-elected will receive double pay for the period before March 2018.
Earlier, MPs awarded themselves a generous retirement package that will see them pocket about Sh13 Million each.
According to the calendar, the legislators will dissolve Parliament on June 15, two months before the General Election but the MPS will get salaries for unpaid work until August 7, a day before the General Election.
"Members will get their salaries and allowances, that is a guarantee I can give this House," Duale said on when he moved the motion to adopt the calendar.
This means each MP will pocket a monthly salary of 1.09 Million for the two months that they will be out of work.
