Francis Muli
MPs irregularly awarded themselves Ksh250,000 monthly house allowances, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission has said.
In a statement to newsrooms on Tuesday, Chairperson Lyn Mengich said that SRC has the sole responsibility to determine salaries and benefits for MPs and all other State officers.
“Article 260 of the Constitution categorises Members of Parliament as state officers and as such, payment of any remuneration and benefits, which have not been set or advised by the SRC is in violation of the Constitution,” said Mengich.
SRC said that it was reviewing the matter with a view of taking appropriate action against the MPs, who have already pocketed Ksh936 million of taxpayers money.
Each legislator in the Senate and National Assembly is reported to have pocketed Ksh.2.25 million last month as a combined amount for the house allowance backdated from August last year when the Parliamentary Service Commission approved the budget.
Read: Atwoli Defends MPs Over Pay Increase, Says Kenyans ‘Pester’ Them For Handouts
Recently, COTU Secretary General Francil Atwoli has backed the move by the MPs to raise their salaries stating that the legislators were constantly being followed by Kenyans for handouts.
He called upon Kenyans on Kenyans to focus on the fight against corruption instead of always begging from members of parliament.
“Kenyans might think that I am crazy, but I am supporting MPs to demand more from you taxpayers due to your behaviour,” Atwoli said.
He said that Kenyans had developed a habit of asking MPs for hand outs forcing them to engage in illegal activities in order to please Kenyans.
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