Muturi, Shaban say MPs’ salary increment demands justified

By EDWIN MAKICHE

KENYA: National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi and Deputy Majority Leader Naomi Shaban have backed MPs’ demands for higher salaries, sparking public outrage and prompting civil society to plan protests this week.

At the same time, Kenya National Union of Teachers national chairman Wilson Sossion also defended lawmakers’ agitation for the hike as the union prepares for a fresh battle with Government over similar demands for higher pay for teachers. Speaking in Sotik over the weekend, Muturi blamed the media for ‘misleading’ citizens and being disrespectful by portraying MPs as people who lack decorum.

The Speaker faulted the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) for tampering with a salary structure drawn by MPs in 2003.  “The claim that the members of 11th Parliament want a pay hike is misplaced. No one is asking for a salary increase. All we want is for MPs to be treated with the respect they deserve,” he said.

Raw deal

Dr Shaban claimed that the legislative arm of the Government was being given a raw deal. She argued that despite the Judiciary and the Cabinet enjoying services like free Government vehicles and a robust state security, the legislators had been left to their own devices.

She faulted Kenyans for ‘demonising’ MPs while they agitated for what was rightfully ‘theirs’. “Kenyans should stop cursing us when we simply ask for our rights. We are a constitutional body and therefore have to enjoy benefits that other arms of the Government do. We are not committing any crime,” she said.

Mr Sossion argued that both Senate and National Assembly were symbols of freedom worldwide. He said SRC’s move to revise MPs’ salaries downwards was a ‘punishment’ to the Kenyan people. “In any republic, Senate and National Assembly represent the freedom of the people. Punishing them is like punishing the people who elected them,” he said. Sossion accused a section of the civil society of allegedly confusing the populace arguing that the economy could sustain legislators’ demands.

“The problem with Kenya economy is not huge wage bill but how taxpayers’ money is utilised. Billions of shillings are lost every year through corruption,” he noted. In a quick rejoinder, however, Deputy President William Ruto urged the leaders to respect institutions created under the new Constitution. Ruto said by continually criticising institutions such as the Judiciary and SRC, leaders were creating anarchy in the country.