MPs award themselves Sh9m send off perk...President Kibaki rejects it!

[Ab-Titchaz]

MPs agree Sh9.3m send off pay

MPs in the newly refurbished Chambers during the official opening at Parliament Buildings August 7, 2012. Finance minister Njeru Githae conspired with MPs in a twilight deal on Wednesday that saw each of the lawmakers get a colossal Sh9.3 million in a golden handshake January 10, 2013 NATION MEDIA GROUP

By ALPHONCE SHIUNDU and JOHN NGIRACHU
Posted Thursday, January 10 2013 at 14:23

Finance minister Njeru Githae conspired with MPs in a twilight deal on Wednesday that saw each of the lawmakers get a colossal Sh9.3 million in a golden handshake.

The MPs also approved that each of them gets an armed bodyguard, a diplomatic passport for the retiree and his wife and unlimited access to the executive lounge for Very Important Person in all the airports within Kenya.....:caked:

The MPs also want to be accorded a state funeral upon death....:bange:

The current ministers in the coalition Cabinet of 42 ministers and 55 assistant ministers will all get a driver paid for by the State. They will also enjoy the perks that MPs have approved.

The lawmakers, in the night deal, quietly amended the law to be paid gratuity at 31 per cent of their Sh200,000 basic monthly salary for every year in service, until August 27, 2010 when the Constitution was promulgated.

After that date, until the end of their term, they approved that the 31 per cent should be on their gross pay of Sh851,000 per month for every year worked.

Kenya's two-year-old Constitution makes it irregular for any State Officer, to be exempted from paying tax. The MPs were previously exempt, and have been holding onto a clause in the National Assembly Remuneration Act not to have their colossal perks taxed. Their basic salary is Sh200,000, their allowances total Sh651,000.

In the secret changes to the Retirement Benefits (Deputy President and Designated State Officers) Bill, 2012, the MPs deleted that clause, so that they raise their taxable remuneration to Sh851,000.

This is the second time that the MPs have presented this quest for huge perks to President Kibaki for assent. When they did so through the Finance Bill in October, the President took the unprecedented step and rejected the move terming the Sh6 million increase in send-off perks as unaffordable and unconstitutional.

The MPs as at now are entitled to Sh3.72 million send-off package, but this too is contested in court, and a ruling is being awaited.

MPs agree Sh9.3m send off pay - Politics - nation.co.ke

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Quotes from a bloggers:

This is straight out of 'Animal Farm'! We liberated ourselves from an imperial president and took away the power to dish out state largess. We empowered out 'people representatives' to take care of our affairs but they have become representatives at the high table content with throwing us scrap after they are full... They tell us we should be happy when they eat because they eat for us; when they are full we are full. Good people we are far from liberation.

When it comes to passing a bill in regards to the citizens welfare it takes months, teachers had to sweat in the streets to get what they truly deserve, but when its about rewards for the mps, this hyenas never think twice. It is sad that there is massacre in the tana delta every day but the people who are supposed to look for solutions are busy looking after their own welfare. we are being attacked everyday, no security to help, but guess what, that's just bad luck. The gov't would rather give each retiring mp an armed bodyguard and VIP services at the expense of the poor. I seriously don't know what to say, it just doesn't sound real, I'm beginning to see where the MRC was coming from

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

MPs' thirst for public funds just made Kenya stare ruin in the face

By MUTUMA MATHIU mmathiu@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Thursday, January 10 2013 at 19:10

In Summary

• Now, from this year we will have a minimum 349 MPs and 67 senators

Congratulations to the 10th Parliament for its singular commitment to pork, and the welfare of MPs.

Their derring-do in awarding themselves more money in the middle of the night shows the lengths to which they will go for a quick, free buck.

It also demonstrates the viciousness with which our so-called leaders desire public money; they will do anything to stick their little snouts in the barrel.

I am not one to deny anyone their just and fair pay. If MPs are owed a retirement package, bodyguards, a state funeral, access to the VIP lounge, diplomatic passports, ad infinitum, why, they should be given these many advantages at once.

But should they be the ones to decide? Isn't there a salaries commission that is hired to figure those kinds of things and make sure that everyone gets their fair due?

Typically, we spend 80 per cent of revenue paying salaries, maintaining fleets of gas guzzlers, providing flowers and tea in offices and so on. Only about 20 per cent goes to development.

Now, from this year we will have a minimum 349 MPs and 67 senators.

Each county will also have between three and nine elected county ward representatives, plus an unknown number of nominated ones on top of the governor, his deputy and a bunch of county honchos.

Don't forget that the central government, from the chief to the commander-in-chief, is not going anywhere. So we are not going to save on salaries.

We dismantled the imperial presidency, now we have an imperial Parliament.

Because of its greed, our salary bill will be more than 100 per cent, because every joker with a government job in this country is lining up, hand outstretched.

We are looking at ruin, a complete financial disaster, back to the days when we needed to kiss donors' feet for money to pay salaries.

Welcome to the brave new Kenya, thanks to our MPs.

MPs

 

[Kenyan]

Written By Peter Opiyo | The Standard Media | Jan 10, 2013

MPs engaged in yet another nocturnal conspiracy to hand themselves hefty gratuity payment of Sh9.3 million each.

They also lavished President Kibaki with a sweetheart retirement deal handing him Sh12.6 million lump sum pay. On top of this, the President would get Sh560,000 monthly pension, an entertainment allowance of Sh105,000 and Sh161,000 house allowance. The President earns a monthly basic salary of Sh700,000.

Also to benefit are Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Speaker Kenneth Marende and his Deputy Farah Maalim, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his deputies Uhuru Kenyatta and Musalia Mudavadi.

In the gravy train, are heads of Security Forces, the Attorney General, the Chief Justice and his Deputy and Secretary to the Cabinet.

Worryingly, the MPs reinstated the Sh9.3 gratuity payment rejected by President Kibaki just less than a month ago. The gratuity had been contained in amendments to the Finance Bill 2012 but the MPs sneaked it in another Bill, The Retirement Benefits (Deputy President and Designated State Officers) Bill 2012.

All eyes would now be on the President as the deal can only be executed if he assents to the two Bills- Presidential Retirement Benefits (Amendment) Bill and The Retirement Benefits (Deputy President and Designated State Officers) Bill 2012.

Calculated to cover all the 224 MPs, the taxpayer would cough at least Sh2 billion to pamper the legislators.


Coming with the package is one armed security guard, diplomatic passport for both the MP and the spouse, access to VIP lounge at all airports within Kenya and a maintenance expense for all.

Finance Minister Robinson Githae sneaked the amendments on Wednesday night to hand the MPs the package. Curiously, the amendments were not printed on the Order Paper and was only hinted at by Githae on the floor and endorsed without any reference to their contents.

The package is arrived at by calculating at 31 per cent of the MPs' basic pay of Sh200,000 per month from the time they were sworn in on January 15, 2008 up to August 26, 2010.

Thereafter, they would benefit from 31 per cent of their gross pay of Sh851,000 as severance pay from August 27, 2010 until January 14, 2013 when their term expires.

Also to benefit from the pay are the retired Speakers of the National Assembly and Senate and their deputies, the Prime Minister, the Vice President, the Deputy Prime Ministers, Chief Justice and their Deputies, Chief of Defence Force, Director of National Intelligence Service, Secretary to the Cabinet, Inspector General of Police and the Director of Public Prosecutions.

According to the Bill, the retired Speakers, Deputy Presidents and Chief Justice would get a monthly pension of 80 per cent of their monthly salary, a monthly house allowance of 15 per cent of their salary and lump-sum pay equal to one and a half years' salary payable for each term served.

This means the Speaker and VP who earn a monthly basic pay of Sh300,000 would get a monthly pension of Sh240,000, a house allowance of Sh45,000 and a lump sum of Sh5.4 million each.

PM and his deputies, deputy Speakers, Deputy CJ, the Attorney General, Chief of Defence Forces, Secretary to the Cabinet, Inspector General of Police, Director of NIS and DPP would have their monthly pension calculated at 35 per cent of their monthly pay, a house allowance of 15 per cent of their salary and a lump-sum payment equal to one year's pay for every term served.

Also going to the President would be a fuel allowance of Sh105,000 and Sh161,000 as electricity, water and telephone allowance.

The President would also enjoy a full medical and hospital cover, both locally and abroad. This would also cover the spouse and his children aged below 18 years.

According to the The Presidential Retirement Benefits (Amendment) Bill, 2012, passed by Parliament, retired Presidents would also be entitled to two personal assistants, four secretaries, four messengers and four drivers.

The retired President would also be entitled to a maximum of six guards for personal escort and a maximum of six security guards stationed both at his urban and rural residences. Two cooks, two housekeepers, two gardeners, two laundry persons and four house cleaners.

Also in the Presidential package to be footed by the taxpayer are office maintenance, maintenance expenses of vehicles, diplomatic passport, local travel, international travel allowance of up to four trips in a year, not exceeding two weeks each. The retired President would also be allowed access to VIP lounge to all airports within Kenya.

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Raila says MPs send off perks a 'betrayal' to Kenyans

Prime Minister Raila Odinga addresses a crowd at a matatu stage in Nyeri Town as he campaigned for his presidential bid on January 10, 2013. Photo/JOSEPH KANYI NATION MEDIA GROUP


By ANTHONY KARIUKI
Posted Friday, January 11 2013 at 11:09

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has condemned MPs hefty send off perks terming it as a betrayal to the people of Kenya.

Mr Odinga said he would advise President Kibaki to reject the package that includes, among other things, diplomatic passports for the legislators and their spouses, unfettered access to VIP lounges in Kenya's airports and a state funeral upon death.

"I have studied the Presidential Retirement Benefits (Amendment) Bill and the Retirement Benefits (Deputy President and Designated State Officers) Bill that were passed by Parliament a few days ago, and I completely object to them," said Mr Odinga in a statement Friday.

"The passage of these Bills amounts to treachery by Parliament. It is an attempt by MPs to blackmail, arm twist and even bribe the Executive in order to have their way," he said.
Mr Odinga said the MPs move will negate the achievements of the Tenth Parliament and the coalition government.

"The recommendations of the two Bills are unacceptable, unjustifiable and border on criminality," said the PM.

He said the country is faced with a myriad of problems that should be addressed first before MPs think of lining their pockets at the expense of taxpayers.

In any case, Mr Odinga said, the country is not in position to pay each of the 222 MPs Sh9.m each in severance pay.

"In a nation struggling with hunger, insecurity, unemployment, wanting health services, rising cost of education and numerous other shortcomings, I find no words to explain and justify the proposed packages to our suffering citizens," Mr Odinga said.

"This runaway greed and callousness must be condemned and rejected by all Kenyans. I condemn and reject this package. We neither need it, nor can we afford it,"


The PM said he would consult President Kibaki "to ensure that we do the right thing for the people of Kenya".

Raila says MPs send off perks a 'betrayal' to Kenyans - Politics - nation.co.ke

 

[sun wu]

The most overpayed underperforming primadonnas not only in Africa but the universe

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Kibaki rejects MPs huge perks

By ANTHONY KARIUKI
Posted Saturday, January 12 2013 at 16:08

President Kibaki has rejected the hefty winding up allowance for MPs after public outrage.


"His Excellency the President has today 12th January 2013 declined to assent to the Retirement Benefits (Deputy President & Designated State Officers) (Bill no 86 of 2012) as enacted by the National Assembly on Thursday 10th January 2012," said a statement from the president's office Saturday.

President Kibaki directed the Attorney General to re-draft the Bill to "ensure compliance with the Constitution and the law and to submit it and the accompanying explanatory memorandum to the Speaker with immediate effect".

The President's move will be welcome news to Kenyans who reacted with fury at the legislator's decision to award themselves Sh9.3m each as a golden handshake.

The proposed law also guaranteed MPs armed bodyguards, a state funeral and unfettered access to VIP lounges in all Kenya's airports.

The Bill also provided for diplomatic passports for the MPs and their spouses.

The move was greeted with outrage.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) and the Salaries and Remunerations Commission (SRC) rejected the send off package.

Mr Odinga slammed the MP's selfish move terming it a betrayal to Kenyans.

"The passage of these Bills amounts to treachery by Parliament. It is an attempt by MPs to blackmail, arm twist and even bribe the Executive in order to have their way," he said.

Mr Odinga said the MPs move will negate the achievements of the Tenth Parliament and the coalition government.

"The recommendations of the two Bills are unacceptable, unjustifiable and border on criminality," said the PM.

CIC Vice Chairman Elizabeth Muli said the act amounted to the Parliament usurping the powers of the salaries commission.

"SRC is the only constitutional organ mandated to set and review remunerations for all state officers," said Dr Muli.

The salaries team said the perks would unnecessarily burden on the taxpayer.

"It was untenable in October when the first perks were approved and it is still untenable now," said SRC chairman Serah Serem

Kibaki rejects MPs huge perks - Politics - nation.co.ke