Kenyans protest against MPs Sh2b award

By Cyrus Ombati

Police used teargas canisters to disperse a group of demonstrators who were marching along Nairobi streets to protest hefty sendoff bonus that Members of Parliament awarded themselves.

The demonstrators who were in two groups planned to camp outside Parliament Buildings to register their disappointment at the increment when police confronted them.

Anti-riot police confronted them near the Office of the President where they had camped demanding that the president rejects the proposal.

The officers lobbed teargas canisters at the group forcing them to disperse.

This prompted a brief chase and panic along Harambee Avenue as police ran after the protestors in a bid to disperse them from the road.

An officer in the squad said the protestors were blocking traffic flow but some of the demonstrators denied the claims saying police had been misled into dispersing them.

Organisers of the demo said they wanted to pass a message to the MPs that their move was not welcome. They went ahead with their protest before dispersing at Parliament Buildings where they addressed journalists.

"It is wrong for the MPs to award themselves such an amount of money when most of Kenyans are suffering," said Morris Odhiambo, one of those who helped organise the demonstration.

Another group was organized through a campaign that was launched on the social media.

The demonstrators, waving placards with messages such as "MPs are thieves" and "greedy hyenas", marched from near Hilton and Kencom bus stop to Parliament.

One of those who mobilised and organised the demo Robert Alai said they wanted to let the MPs to know the public mood is against their moves.

Both groups planned to stop at Parliament to hand over their petition but that was cut short by the teargas that was thrown at them.

Only one managed to do so and demanded that the legislators listen to the demands of Kenyans.

The legislators introduced an amendment Thursday that would see them get a total of Sh2.1 billion in bonuses.

Each of the 222 members and the Speaker would get Sh9.3 million as a sendoff package at the end of their current term.

Those who participated in the protest on the streets on Tuesday wondered why it took teachers, doctors and other civil servants long to negotiate for their salary increment whereas for MPs it took few minutes.

"How come our teachers had to strike for three weeks to get a salary hike, yet within a single sitting the MPs could easily increase their remuneration," Odhiambo said.

The proposed golden handshake - which must still be ratified by President Kibaki - comes after ministry of Finance has already proposed tax rises to pay for public sector wage increase demands.

Several rights groups, including Transparency International and the Kenya Human Rights Commission, said in a joint statement the move was "extremely disturbing" and broke constitutional rules.

The statement called on Kenyans to let lawmakers "know that they are not willing to foot the cost of their greed."

Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Minister Esther Murugi and MPs Martha Karua and Johnstone Muthama among others have said they are against the MP's gratuity bonus.