MP claims he was misquoted on resigning over pay slash

By ALLAN KISIA

A Member of the National Assembly has clarified that he has no plans of relinquishing his position as MP following a move by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to slash their pay.

Kiambu legislator Jude Njomo claimed that he was misquoted by the sections of the media which said he was planning to quit from his position if MPs are not given a salary increment.

The legislator said that he will remain in office for five years until the end of the current Parliament’s term.

“I took oath of office and swore to it. I will continue to serve in the same capacity until the next election and beyond,” he added.

He claimed that the said issues had brought a lot of anxiety to his family, friends and his constituents.

The legislator said he only touched on the issue of salaries of MPs saying that he had left the matter to be pursued by the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) and the SRC.

The MP said he is aware that the PSC was looking in the matter and had no intention of delving in to it.

“I know the issue of the salaries has been referred to the PSC and they are engaging with the SRC, I am confident that the discussions will be fruitful and whatever outcome I will gladly accept,” he added.

Mid this month, the legislator was quoted in sections of the media as having said that he will resign by the end of the month should the MPs pay package remain the same.

The MP asked the public to desist from condemning legislators and instead allow them to exercise their democratic right and give their views on the review of their salaries.

Members of parliament and the SRC have been locked in a tussle over the remuneration of the legislators after the latter demanded that their pay be increased from the current Shs 535 000 to Shs 851 000.

The legislators have insisted that they want to be paid a similar amount as their counterpart in the tenth parliament who were paid Sh851 000

Already, Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi has prepared a motion seeking to disband the SRC commission on grounds that it did not follow the law while reviewing the salaries.

The SRC has however made it clear that it will review upwards their salaries once the country’s economy grows.