Inside MPs Plan to Receive Ksh11.7 Billion Free Cars, Mortgage

An image of the Senate committee in parliament in a past proceeding.
A file image of the Senate committee in parliament in a past proceeding.
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Lawmakers have hatched another plan that will see them receive top-of-the-range free vehicles, mortgages, and even medical covers after the August 9 General Election.

In their latest bid, they have petitioned the National Treasury to include an extra Ksh11.7 billion in the budget to facilitate their new demands.

Parliament's Budget and Appropriations Committee is pushing to have Members of the National Assembly awarded Ksh4.2 billion for free cars after elections. On top of that they also want Ksh500 million to be added to their subsidized mortgage.

Legislators are also seeking Ksh373 million to cater for the medical bills for those who fail to reclaim their seats in the polls.

Kenya's Budget and Appropriations Committee Chairperson Kanini Kega speaking in Parliament on December 3, 2020.
Former Kieni MP, Kanini Kega speaking in Parliament on December 3, 2020.
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In addition, they are also pushing to have their aides given a send-off package amounting to Ksh6.6 billion.

At the moment, the Senate and National Assembly has a total of 418 parliamentarians including both speakers. They all have staff attached to them who are set to receive retirement benefits equivalent to 31 per cent of their salaries.

“The Parliamentary Service Commission submitted to the Budget and Appropriation Committee expenditure requirements amounting to Ksh65.71 billion. This translates to a Ksh27.23 billion deviation from the resource ceiling of Ksh38.476 billion presented by the National Treasury,” Kanini Kega, the committee chair, states in the report tabled in the National Assembly.

“The committee observed that the additional requests include one-off expenditures amounting to Ksh11.7 billion which are unavoidable under the current circumstances given the lapsing of the 12th Parliament.”

Currently the lawmakers are entitled to Ksh7 million car loan, Ksh5 million car grant, and Ksh20 million mortgage.

If Kanini's petition is approved, it will see them double their car grant to Ksh10 million from the Ksh5 million they are currently enjoying.

The Parliamentary Pensions Act states that MPs who serve for more than two consecutive terms are entitled to a Ksh125,000 monthly pension for the rest of their lives.

The additions will see them emerge among the top earning legislators in the region. Defending their push to increase their perks, the lawmakers argued that they help most of their constituents and run charitable ventures that require them to be bankrolled.

MPs Ichung'wah Anthony Kimani and Ndindi Nyoro accompanying John Nguguna for his Swearing-In on August 4 2021
MPs Ichung'wah Anthony Kimani and Ndindi Nyoro accompanying John Nguguna for his Swearing-In on August 4 2021.
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