Anger over MPs' Sh2.2 billion bonus

By Digital Reporter

More Kenyans and Civil Society groups voiced their concerns over parliament's move to pay themselves hefty send off package at the end of the House's term.

The MPs added a Sh2.1 billion severance pay to their already fat perks in changes introduced in the Finance Act on Thursday night as part of their winding up gratuity.

Anti-graft organisation Mars Group Kenya condemned the greed with which MPs selfishly awarded themselves the money in a secretive manner and said the act was in contempt of court as there was a petition opposing arbitrary increase of salaries and allowances.

"We have noted the brazen action of the Kenya National Assembly to yet again award its members substantial personal remeuneration, without regard or approval of the Salaries & Remuneration Commission established under Article 230 of the Constitution of Kenya," said Mwalimu Mati, the Mars Group Chief Executive.

Mati accused the MPs and the Parliamentary Service Commission of having abused their privileges and disregarded all rules of decency and conflict of interest to purport to yet again enact increases to their personal remuneration and allowances.

"This is contemptuous to proceedings before the High Court of Kenya in Petition 175 of 2012 of which the Parliamentary Service Commission is very aware (having applied to be enjoined in the same proceedings as a party).

In Petition 175 of 2012 Jayne Mati has urged the High Court to find that antecedent behaviour to amend the Finance Bill of 2012 was unconstitutional specifically the court was urged to decide that:

(1) The Court be pleased to issue a declaration to issue that sections 44 and 44A of the Finance Act, 2011 is ultra vires Article 230 of the Constitution of the Republic of Kenya and are therefore null and void.

(2) The court be pleased to issue a declaration that it is

unconstitutional for the National Assembly and/or any person, state organ and/or any state authority to review, increase or in any way deal with the salary and/or remuneration of any public officer without the recommendation and/or authority of the Salary and Remuneration Commission.

Mars Group said it will crusade against the hefty allowance increase. "Public Service Commission, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission and the general public are hereby notified that petition 175 of 2012 will never be abandoned by the Petitioners.

The petitioner resolved to oppose the contemptuous, outrageous, and provocative acts by MPs, in the High Court and if need be pursue and apply for corrective action against the Parliamentary Service Commissioners for their contempt of these proceedings, at the next hearing on Monday before Justice David Majanja.