Home » Media Centre » Blogs » MP Vote Themselves Kshs 1.5 million allowance
By Francis Mureithi (for Mzalendo)
It was a celebratory week for Members of Parliament after they voted to have each of them take home KShs 1.5 million at the end of the life of the current Parliament. Legislators, on Thursday September 6, 2007 sealed the deal in a flash as the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendment) Bill went through the third reading. According to the amendment on the National Assembly Remuneration Act, each MP will now be entitled to KShs 300,000 as allowanced for every year served. This would be backdated to January 9, 2003 when members Ninth Parliament were sworn into the House.
How did the members vote? The House had over 60 MPs and no one opposed when the question was put before the House. Again, they did not debate on this particular amendment but just accepted it once the question was put. On voting, it was purely acclamation "Ayes" so it was difficult to pinpoint how a particular MP voted.
Initially, the amount was KShs 6.5 million. This was however scaled down following intense opposition by civil society groups. A resounding chorus of “Ayes” from both Opposition and Government rent the air when the question on the gratuity was put.
Additionally, Parliament passed an amendment that will see the number of judges at the High Court and Court of Appeal increased from 50 to 70 and 11 to 14 respectively. But Parliament adjourned before members could deliberate on proposed amendments in the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act and other essential matters. Temporary Speaker Kiruki M’Mukindia said the committee will proceed with its sitting next Tuesday to deliberate on pending issues. The National Assembly and Presidential Elections Act was also amended to allow petitions to be served through publication. The publication can be carried in a daily newspaper and drafted in English and Kiswahili.
Siakago MP Justin Muturi successfully moved an amendment on the same Act to gag arbitrary appointment of MPs from the opposition to the Cabinet. Those appointed, according to Muturi’s amendment, shall now be allowed to join the Cabinet with the mandate of the sponsoring party.
During the week also, Justice and constitutional affairs minister Martha Karua defended her ministry over claims by MPs that it was dillydallying to publish a Bill on minimum constitutional reforms. The minister told Parliament that the report by the Inter-Parties Parliamentary Group which recommended the publication of the Constitutional Amendment Bill is not officially with her ministry. MPs sought to know what progress the government has made towards publishing the Bill as resolved by the Inter-Parties Parliamentary Group on June 19 this year.
But the lack of quorum syndrome persisted. On Tuesday September 4, 2007, Parliament adjourned at 5.40 pm instead of the usual 6.30 pm due to lack of quorum. Present in the chamber were 20 MPs – 12 on the Government side and eight for opposition.
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