Cost of MPs week-long induction a 'non-issue', Gladys Shollei says

During the commencement of the MPs' induction yesterday, September 19, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula said that he was lobbying for the reinstatement of legislators' perks that had been eliminated by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).

Wetangula assured MPs that they will not forfeit any benefits obtained during the 12th Parliament prior to the August 9 General Election.

He said the Public Service Commission(PSC) has held discussions with the SRC chairperson Lyn Mengich to ensure that MPs get what their predecessors earned.

The SRC in August scrapped sitting allowances in plenary sessions in what the commission said will save taxpayers one billion shillings annually.

The commission however retained committee sitting allowance. MPs earn Sh7,500 for every sitting and the abolishment of the allowances for plenary sessions in the National Assembly and the senate is meant to ease the pressure on the public sector wage bill which is currently at Sh930.5 billion.

Senators retreated to Naivasha for their induction exercise, which was opened by Senate Speaker Amason Kingi on Tuesday, September 20.