Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) vice chairman Adan Keynan introduced amendments to the National Assembly Remuneration Act to peg MPs severance allowance at the rate of 31 per cent of the gross remuneration payable to the legislators each month. Photo/FILE
What you need to know:
Each of the 224 MPs —including Speaker Kenneth Marende and Attorney-General Githu Muigai who are ex-officio members —will take home Sh9.3 million when their term ends on January 15, 2013.
MPs approved the amendment that was not listed in the Order Paper without any debate at about 8.40pm on Thursday night.
In the new perks, MPs will earn gratuity at 31 per cent of the salary for every year in service, in respect of the period up to August 26, 2010 and at the same rate after the promulgation of the new Constitution on August 27, 2010.
MPs on Thursday night sneaked amendments to the Finance Bill and overwhelmingly voted to award themselves Sh2 billion gratuities at the end of their term.
In probably their last act of self-enrichment from taxpayers’ money, each of the 224 MPs —including Speaker Kenneth Marende and Attorney-General Githu Muigai who are ex-officio members —will take home Sh9.3 million when their term ends on January 15, 2013.
The move piles on the growing public wage bill. Doctors and teachers have cited the MPs’ pay in their clamour for better terms.
Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) vice chairman Adan Keynan introduced amendments to the National Assembly Remuneration Act to peg MPs severance allowance at the rate of 31 per cent of the gross remuneration payable to the legislators each month.
The severance pay includes the salary, constituency allowance, nominated members allowance, ex-officio members allowance, House allowance, extraneous allowance, transport allowance, entertainment allowance and vehicle fixed cost allowance.
The gross pay each member takes home every month is Sh851,000. MPs approved the amendment that was not listed in the Order Paper without any debate at about 8.40pm on Thursday night.
In the new perks, MPs will earn gratuity at 31 per cent of the salary for every year in service, in respect of the period up to August 26, 2010 and at the same rate after the promulgation of the new Constitution on August 27, 2010.
Last year, MPs amended the Finance Bill 2011 to increase their severance perks to Sh3.3 million each (Sh300,000 per month).
Civil society groups went to court to challenge the matter and a ruling is yet to be made.
The new amendment if assented into law will triple the amount of last year to Sh9.3 million.
Keynan’s amendment, dated September 26, 2012 was approved by Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim on October 2, 2012 but was kept secret until production last night.
Finance Minister Njeru Githae also appended his signature on the amendment number 21(A) minutes before it was introduced.
Ordinarily, all amendments to a Bill are published or listed in the Order Paper and moved by the sponsor at the Committee of the Whole House stage indicating reasons behind the proposed changes to the law but not Keynan’s amendment.
When some MPs questioned the said amendment, Temporary Deputy Speaker Ekwee Ethuro, who was chairing the committee stage said “the amendment has been circulated” and proceeded to put the matter to vote without any debate. MPs approved their hefty perks through acclamation.
Earlier on Thursday, Speaker Kenneth Marende reorganised the order of business as listed and pushed down the consideration of the Finance Bill which had been given priority. Instead, Ethuro prosecuted amendments to his Bill on the Resettlement of IDPs.
