The Secretary General of the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU), Francis Atwoli, has come out forcefully in favour of a pay increment for Members of Parliament.
Speaking on Saturday, he said the legislators are the sole dependants of their constituents and needed to be funded.
“So many people depend on them(MPs) and they are going to initiate alot of things in their constituencies. If you cut them from earning, what will give them dignity as members of parliament? You are doing a disservice to the country,” Atwoli said.
Further, Atwoli stated that it is up to the taxpayers to guarantee that the MPs are well clothed so that they do not indulge in ‘funny’ enterprises that do not correspond to their rank.
“MPs must appear presentable, must speak well, must be seen as MPs and it is us as taxpayers to make sure they are well dressed so that they don’t become conmen or do some other business,” he said.
According to the outspoken COTU boss, the MPs cannot serve their constituents if they are not well ‘fed’.
“I don’t think we are moving well as a country. If you are hungry how do you represent the hungry if you have been left to beg? MPs carry themselves with respect and dignity as elected leaders, “Atwoli said.
Last Monday, the 13th Parliament failed to persuade the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to reinstate sitting allowances during plenary sessions.
The MPs voiced their displeasure with the commission over the new emoluments that were gazetted before of the elections.
They asked that the SRC reinstate the Sh5,000 sitting allowance for each plenary session, as well as the car grant, under which every MP received a brand new car at the start of each Parliament.
However, SRC chair Lyn Mengich insisted that the sitting allowance had not been abolished and was still included in the MPs’ combined remuneration of Sh710,000.
Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that the Constituency Development Fund was unlawful and unconstitutional, thereby ending a nine-year legal struggle between Members of Parliament and civil society groups.
The country’s top court said in its decision that the statute permitting MPs to manage finances violates revenue division and public finance rules.
The lawsuit was brought at the High Court in 2013, however it was later elevated to the Supreme Court when the Court of Appeal rejected the High Court’s decision.
