MPs insist they must decide own pay, putting work of salary team in jeopardy

By GEOFFREY MOSOKU

The fight for higher perks by MPs and senators has made them an impediment to reforming the salary and remuneration structures in the public service. 

The MPs, in the previous Constitution, had powers to revise their salaries, a function that they were deprived following the promulgation of the new Constitution in August 2010.

This role was assigned to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), which its first gazette notice set the legislators salaries at Sh532,000.

But defiant MPs fought back and moved to revoke the SRC gazette notice in order to earn a salary that they had previously set at Sh851,000, minus allowances.

They now pocket on average Sh1.2 million monthly after revoking notices by SRC that had later pegged their pay at Sh774,800.

MPs are currently plotting to change the Constitution in a bid to secure powers to determine their pay through a constitutional amendment Bill.

If the Bill to amend Article 260 of the Constitution, which classifies them as state officers is passed, MPs’ salaries will no longer be determined by the SRC.

The plan is to remove MPs, judges, magistrates and members of county assemblies from the list of state officers.

Ruaraka MP T.J. Kajwang’ headed the five-member committee that was tasked with preparing the Bill.

Commission on the Implementation of the Constitution has opposed the Bill, which is in its Second Reading insisting that to amend the Constitution, the country must go to the referendum.

The Commission on Administrative Justice has also petitioned National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi over the Bill, saying the amendment would have grave implications on the structure of Government and operations and functions of constitutional commissions.