Former MPs in public service draw fat perks in salaries and pension

Riding on a pliant system and a generous employer, a section of politicians are drawing double or at times triple monthly payments in pension, salaries and allowances running into billions.

This heaven-on-earth state for the chosen few, whose number keeps growing, annually will continue drawing thousands of shillings even after they die.

They are beneficiaries of pension laws heavily skewed against the taxpayer but sympathetic to politicians, their spouses and children.

The politicians and their spouses enjoy a medical scheme that offers them access to the best healthcare in the country. 

According to the Pensions Department, about 1,000 former MPs are drawing a monthly pension. Interestingly, some have since secured lucrative jobs in the public sector.  

The Saturday Standard has established that although an estimated 300 MPs and governors were rejected by the electorate in the last General Election, a number bounced back in public service and are now enjoying multiple monthly payments.

Some of the leaders enjoying generous perks are former MPs Eugene Wamalwa, Mwangi Kiunjuri, Ukur Yattani, John Munyes, Charles Keter and Najib Balala who are now cabinet secretaries.

They are also entitled to a monthly pension by virtue of having served as MP for more than one term.

At the same time, the likes of Chief Administrative Secretaries (CAS) Ababu Namwamba, Peter Munya, Christopher Obure, Mohamed Ibrahim Elmi, Gideon Mung’aro and Rachel Shebesh receive double monthly payments from the Treasury.

The CAS emoluments are only second to the Cabinet Secretaries.

Gratuity

Still, some former MPs who had long stints in Parliament are getting as much as Sh300,000 pension even as they draw salaries and allowances amounting to more than Sh1 million as governors and East Africa Legislative Assembly (Eala) members.

Before appointment as Cabinet Secretary, Mr Munya received gratuity, a one off payment for the five years he steered Meru County as governor. The former MP also gets monthly pension even as he draws a salary as Trade and Industry CS. 

Another category of super earners are governors Hasan Joho, Amason Kingi, Ferdinard Waititu, Mike Sonko, Martin Wambora, Charity Ngilu, Joyce Laboso Kiraitu Murungi Mohamed Kuti Kivutha Kibwana Twalib Twaha, Anyang Nyongo, Joyce Laboso and Muthomi Njuki.

Although the governors draw a monthly pay of more than Sh1 million, those who have served more than one term as MPs also receive pension every month.

At the same time, State House Comptroller Kinuthia Mbugua is among the luckiest Kenyans.

On retirement as Commandant of the Administration Police, he qualified for pension. He was later elected Nakuru County Governor where he served for five years and ultimately received Sh19 million gratuity. Currently he is earning a salary and at the same time drawing monthly pension.

Experts explained that governors receive Sh19 million gratuity each if they serve for one term or double the amount when their term expire after being at the helm for ten years.

Former Bondo MP Oburu Odinga who has been in Parliament for 18 years since 1994, earns pension.

He also draws Sh1.49 million salary from Eala, going by the rates approved by the Heads of State in 2014. 

Other former MPs in Eala are Simon Mbugua, Judith Pareno and Mpuri Aburi but are not entitled to pension after their one term stint in Parliament.

Minority Leader John Mbadi yesterday said there was nothing wrong with paying former MPs pension even as they earn a salary while working in other capacities.

“If I am elected a governor in the next elections, I will expect to be paid my pension as an MP, I have been surrendering 12.7 per cent of my salary towards the pension scheme,” he said.

Mbadi explained that he pays Sh60,000 every month towards the pension scheme while the government contributes double the amount. 

“Every month my contribution and that of the government is supposed to earn interest whose interest is then compounded. This is the pension I will get when I exit Parliament,” the ODM chairman added. He explained that he had also tabled a Bill in Parliament to enhance the pension of about 150 former MPs.

“There is a misconception that I want all former MPs who served for one term to receive monthly pension. This is not true. My Bill caters for MPs who served between 1994 and 2001,”  he said.

Petition was rejected

He noted that some former MPs draw monthly pension as little as Sh6,000. 

If Mbadi’s Bill sails through Parliament, former MPs will enjoy monthly pension of Sh100,000.

Former Nyeri MP Wanyiri Kihoro moved to court seeking to have the former MPs who served between 1963 and 2002 to be paid a pension of Sh100,000 as per the decision made by former National Assembly Speaker Ken Marende in 2010

“My petition was rejected by justice David Majaja. Out of the 400 former MPs, about 100 have died. It is sad that they have to suffer like this. In 2016, I took the matter to Parliamentary Pension Management Committee who advised me that if the pension is not paid I should go to court to seek a mandatory injunction,” Kihoro added.

In January he notified the Speaker of his intention to go to court if the former MPs are not paid the pension.

According to the Director of Pension, currently there are about 500 former MPs who are receiving pension, meaning that the government is spending a minimum  of Sh50 million per month on the same.