MPs: How we are surviving without pay

By Kipchumba Some

The going is proving difficult for MPs after going for three months without pay following their rejection of the salaries set by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.

A number of the legislators interviewed by The Standard on Sunday spoke of hard times even as they insisted they are willing to wait until their pay is raised to previous levels.

Hardest hit are the new MPs, some of who admitted that they are having difficulties meeting their financial obligations at home and fulfilling some of the promises they made to constituents during campaigns.

A first time MP from western Kenya who did not wish to be named perhaps spoke for a good number of his colleagues when he said: “I am a poor man right now and a poor man who wishes to be left alone. I don’t have anything to give anyone right now.”

The legislator said that he borrowed a lot during the campaigns from friends and even shylocks and all of them are now demanding for their pound of flesh.

“But I have been stripped bare to the bone. I dont have any more flesh,” he said in reference to his lack of finances.

Soon after they were elected, some legislators moved their children to prestigious schools befiting their new social status. But they now have to contend with demand calls from angry and impatient school principals.

Homecoming ceremonies, a common feature after the MPs are sworn in, have been few and far between this time round.

“No one has money to do that kind of stuff,” said  Mwingi West MP Benard Kitungi.

Some of the MPs are now worried that their failure to fulfil some of the promises they had made to their voters and their absence from their constituencies are being exploited by their political opponents.

Mileage claims

Currently, MPs are making do with mileage claims from Parliament. The mileage is calculated based on the  engine capacity of the car one drives, the type of fuel it uses multiplied by the number of kilometres his or her constituency is from Nairobi.

“The mileage is a pitance compared to the huge financial demands placed on us by our constituents,” said Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati.

“I am not badly off myself, but some of us cannot find good accomdation because they don’t have money,” he said.

MPs are contesting a decision by the SRC to slash their salaries by about a third.

When releasing the revised pay packages for all public officials  this year, SRC cut MPs pay from Sh851,000 to Sh532,000. The legislators have not taken the Commision’s move kindly and have launched a sustained campaign to have their salaries returned to the previous  higher figures.

The MPs revoked the gazette notice that fixed their salaries. They have threatened to paralyse Government operations if their wage demands are not met. They have threatened to push for legislation that will further cut salaries of all state officers, including the presidents’.  They have threatened to interfere with the collection of revenue by passing a law that will exempt civil servants earning Sh 50,000 and below from paying income taxes.

They also threatened to disband the SRC claiming that it has over reached its mandate. “The manner in which the Commision went about its duties suggests that it had something against us,” said Mvita legislator Abdulswamad Nassir.

However the SRC has remained unswayed by the MPs demands. Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki, a second time MP, said that they are willing to wait for as long as it takes for their salaries to be increased. However, some wish the impasse would end sooner rather than later.

“It is not a good idea to absent from your constituency just a few months after being elected,” said an MP from Rift Valley who did not wish to be identified. “I fear picking strange calls. It might somebody from the constituency asking for some help,” he said.

Gideon Irea-Imenti Central

My wife is working and she gives me money for everything. So  I don’t have problems like some of my colleagues who are not married or whose wives are not employed. I am fine financially. My son is also working and, therefore, my family is well taken care of.

Enock Kibunguchi-Likuyani

I intended to set up an education fund to supplement CDF bursaries for needy students with my salary, but I haven’t been able to.  I have had to give excuses for a number of promises I had made to my constituents.

I am surviving through my profession currently. I a doctor by profession and I usually return to my practice in Eldoret when I am not attending sessions in Parliament. That is from Friday to Monday. The debate on whether we should be added more salary overshadows the fact that MPs do a lot more than their core mandates.

Kareke Mbiuki-Maara

I don’t rely on my parliamentary salary. I am an old timer. Personally I have several businesses that are supporting me.  I have a house in Nairobi and don’t pay rent to anyone. But I know many of my colleagues are surviving from hand to mouth. Some of them are in massive debt which they incurred during the camapigns. Normally, I dedicate nearly all my salary from Parliament to my consitutents. However, I hardly attend harambees and other functions at home since I have nothing to give.  We pray for that white smoke from SRC soon. But the end result will be worth the wait.

Makali Mulu- Kitui Central

I spent a lot of my family resources during the campaigns and we are now depleted. I have been borrowing from friends to make ends meet. I have a son in college and I have had to borrow money to pay his school fees. I had promised to pay school fees for  a number of secondary school day scholars in my constituency, but I have broken that promise. I have had to be very open with my consituents. I told them I simply don’t have any more money to meet the obligations. Some understood, some did not.

Benard Kitungi- Mwingi West

New MPs have a lot of problems. Some had already enrolled their children in expensive schools and now find it difficult to raise fees for them. Personally, I am unable to pay school fees for two of my children who are in college. I am surviving on income from small businesses I had started. But I borrowed a lot from my friends during the campaigns and they want their money back. I go to my constituency every weekend. The good thing is that most of my consituents understand that I don’t have money.

Amina Abdalla- Nominated

I have not been hit hard like the rest of my colleagues because I do not represent any constituency. Therefore, the demands on me are quite manageable.  I am also not a bread winner and I tend to save most of my salary.

However my philanthrophy work has suffered greatly. I usually pay school fees for a number of students each year. Two of them finished form four last year and I was to pick two more, but I haven’t done so this year due to the salaries hitch.

Jakoyo Midiwo-Gem

I will not comment on anything about salaries. But it will be very dishonest of me to tell you I am suffering. That should be directed to the new MPs. I am a successful businessman and I am comfortable.

Silvance Osele-Kasipul Kabondo

Settling down has not been difficult. But there is a lot of charity work in being a leader. If I was to quantify the requests that I receive from my consistuents on a weekly basis, I would put the amount at Sh100,000 on the lower side.

Simba Arati- Dagoreti North

I thought that being in Parliament was prestigious until now. I was going through the messages I receive from my constituents on a daily basis and the amount of their requests came to about Sh26,000. On average, therefore, I would have to contribute more than Sh300,000 towards fulfilling their requests.

But what has helped me cope without a salary for all those months is the fact that I had been helping people long before I was elected to Parliament. I don’t depend on salary from Parliament. 

James Wandayi- Ugunja

I do not have a problem with salary now and I don’t see it becoming an issue in the future.  I worked with the British American Tobacco for 14 years and I am using my savings to fulfil whatever promises I made to voters. I am also a sucessful businessman in my own right.

Abdulswamad Nassir- Mvita

Lack of salary has not affected me much. I am surviving on my businesses. I know of some who find it hard to get home in the evening after their parliamentary work. My work is being pushed through Shariff Nassir Foundation.