Kenyan representatives to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), also known as EALA MPs, are now seeking inclusion in the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) and, among other things, a budget.
The MPs, led by their chairman Kanini Kega, paid a courtesy call to National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula on Tuesday, seeking Wetangula’s intervention to have them incorporated into the PSC, where the Speaker also serves as Chairman of the Commission.
According to a statement from Parliament, among their demands are an office in Nairobi, a budget, a car mortgage, and a transportation allowance, among other things.
Speaker Wetangula, for his part, promised to make a constitutional amendment to implement their demands.
“Speaker Wetang’ula committed to engage with the Attorney General, Justin Muturi to deliberate on a constitutional amendment to incorporate Kenyan East African Legislation Assembly Members into the Kenyan PSC just like their counterpart in our neighboring country Uganda,” read part of the statement.
Speaker Wetangula also pledged to meet with East African Community Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano to ensure that the budget is allocated in a way that “will also assist them in delivering their mandate.”
According to the East African, the EALA MPs currently earn a basic salary of Ksh.781,776 ($6,408) plus allowances worth up to Ksh.1.7 million ($14,000). Each of the 54 MPs is entitled to Ksh.19,520 ($160) per sitting.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s son Kennedy Kalonzo, ODM party leader Raila Odinga’s daughter Winnie Odinga, Former MP Kanini Kega, and Mombasa businessman Suleiman Shahbal are among the delegation members.
Others include former Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar, former Woman Rep Zipporah Kering, ex-Nominated MP David ole Sankok, Godfrey Mwangi, and former Senator Falhada Dekow.
