Civil society pig protests force MPs to ‘alternatives’

By FELIX OLICK

Kenya: Civil Society Organisations staged a mega protest against MPs’ demand for increased pay perks in a renewed bid to stop the legislators from arm-twisting the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.

The ‘Occupy Parliament’ protesters blocked the main entrance to the National Assembly for almost four hours waving placards condemning ‘MPs’ greed’ as they splattered stinking blood all over the entrance.

Buoyed by the live coverage from major TV stations, the protesters mocked MPs as police officers in riot gear watched helplessly as they picketed.

Donned in white T-shirts, the hundreds of protesters carried a dummy of a pig and piglets to the doorsteps of the Parliament to signify MPs’ greed, which they maintained is at the expense of the taxpayer.

At the entrance, where they pitched tent, the activists sang and danced undeterred by the smelly blood and the police presence, who were armed to the teeth.

They narrated almost in tears, panting and drenched in sweat, how the price of basic commodities had doubled beyond the reach of ordinary citizens.

In their message to the lawmakers, the activists maintained MPs should take the Sh532,000 offered by SRC or resign from Parliament as they chanted “Bunge sio biashara, bunge ni utumishi” (Parliament is not a business enterprise, its public service).

Carrying placards, protesters vowed not to be cowed shouting ‘you can jail the revolutionary but you cannot jail revolution’ as they likened the protest to the Arab Spring up North.

The procession began at the historic Freedom Corner at Uhuru Park bringing the traffic on Uhuru Highway to a standstill.

They tactfully avoided City Hall Way that had been blocked by the anti-riot police and opted for Harambee Avenue where they forced their way to the dismay of parliamentary staff who had abandoned their duties to watch the drama.

As they walked, they would occasionally stop all lying flat on the road chanting anti-MPs slogans.

Happening just hours before the National Assembly convened for the day’s afternoon session, the protesters forced MPs use alternative routes to access the Parliament.

The few MPs who braved to drive through the messy entrance were mocked as they drove in using their sleek cars.

The protesters also bashed MPs who have been vocal about the pay increase including Majority Leader Aden Duale, Gem legislator Jakoyo Midiwo and his Suba counterpart John Mbadi.

This is the second time the activists, under the banner of the National Civil Society Congress, are protesting at what they call MPs’ greed at the expense of the taxpayer.

The civil society organisations have recently likened MPs to pigs for their ‘greed’.

The activists who included renowned lawyer Prof Yash Pal Ghai told journalists they were annoyed by MPs’ hindrance to devolution and Constitution implementation.

“Each day, MPs seem to be determined to obstruct the Constitution. Some of these MPs were not yet here when we fought for the Constitution, yet they want to obstruct it. We are a poor country and additional pay will mean more burden to the taxpayer,” Ghai said.

The SRC has recommended MPs be paid Sh532,000 while the legislators demand Sh850,000.

The National Assembly has 349 MPs while Senate has 67, bringing the total to 416 plus the two Speakers and two clerks for the two tier chambers.

Activist Boniface Mwangi said they were alarmed by media reports that SRC had carved in to pressure from MPs and effected the payments.

“If SRC concedes to the demands, a dangerous precedent would be set by the President Uhuru Kenyatta administration that political expediency is guaranteed to prevail no matter how unpopular some decisions can be,” Mwangi said.

Recently, the legislators overturned a Kenya Gazette notice by SRC that slashed their salaries.

However SRC and the Commission on the Implementation of the Constitution have warned the Parliamentary Service Commission from effecting the payments.