New Bill lines up Sh100,000 monthly pay and more benefits for former Kenyan MPs

Russia's Senate Speaker Valentina Matviyenko (centre) is escorted by National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi (left) as she leaves Parliament Buildings in Nairobi Thursday after their discussions. [PHOTO: BONIFACE OKENDO/STANDARD]

NAIROBI: Kenya's parliamentarians have made curious additions to their retirement package. Not only will they continue living off taxpayers money (Sh100,000) for the rest of their lives in monthly stipends, they want psychiatric services or a counsellor too. And this is to be paid for by the taxpayer.

According to the lawmakers, the emotional turmoil of losing an election makes life "psychologically difficult" for them, hence the need for a soft emotional landing to bring them from their elitist life to that of a commoner.