Night allowance unjustifiable-Moses Kuria

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria in a past press conference. He has said that proposed night allowance for MPs is not justifiable. [File, Standard]

Gatundu South Member of Parliament Moses Kuria has differed with his colleagues of their proposed Domestic Subsistence Allowance (night allowance), terming in unjustifiable.

In his letter addressed to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Kuria has said that there is nothing that warrants the payment of the allowance for the MPs who are on official Parliamentary Business in Nairobi.
“I find this allowance not justifiable at all costs. I reside in my house in Nairobi and cannot justify to my family why the taxpayer has to pay me to be away from them,” Kuria noted in his letter.

The Gatundu South legislator has further told the National Assembly that he will not be interested in pocketing the allowance and has instead directed them to channel the money to his constituency should the bill be signed.
He said: “I direct that if the payment has to be made, Parliament to transfer the same to Gatundu District Hospital for the remainder of my term in 12th Parliament.”

On Sunday, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi defended MPs’ proposed arguing that it will boost their morale and solve the quorum hitches in the House.
Last week on Wednesday, the legislators hurriedly passed the Parliamentary Service Bill entitling them to a raft of allowances including the Sh250,000 house allowance and Sh18,000-Sh24,000-night allowance.
The Bill which is on President Uhuru Kenyatta’s table if effected will pamper the legislators with treatments like having a room for visitors, bevy of researchers, uninterrupted internet connectivity and a room for parliamentary parties to caucus.