Kenyan
JF-Expert Member
- Jun 7, 2012
- 414
- 314
MPs want their spouses to get diplomatic passports to allow them free access to exclusive diplomatic lounges and privileged treatment at local and international airports.
In a bill sponsored by Adan Keynan (Eldas), there's a proposal for the MPs in the National Assembly and in the Senate to join the president and his family, the deputy president and his family, the speakers and clerks of both Houses, cabinet secretaries, diplomats, governors and principal secretaries in the class of State officers with diplomatic passports.
The MPs are using the Public Service Bill, 2015, to sneak themselves onto that privileged list. They say that regardless of what the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act states, they will be "entitled to diplomatic passports".
There's also a fresh attempt to block the public from accessing information about Parliament. They say the Parliamentary Service Commission can deny anyone public information if it is "prejudicial to national security or the interests of Parliament".
The Bill also proposes a maximum fine of Sh 50,000 or up to a year in jail for any MP or staff who leaks confidential information. For one to access the information, they will also swear to respect all the confidentiality clauses.
The lawmakers are also sneaking in an amendment to the Public Finance Management Act to shield the money that is allocated to Parliament from being returned to the National Treasury, if the money is unspent at the end of the financial year.
standard digital
In a bill sponsored by Adan Keynan (Eldas), there's a proposal for the MPs in the National Assembly and in the Senate to join the president and his family, the deputy president and his family, the speakers and clerks of both Houses, cabinet secretaries, diplomats, governors and principal secretaries in the class of State officers with diplomatic passports.
The MPs are using the Public Service Bill, 2015, to sneak themselves onto that privileged list. They say that regardless of what the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act states, they will be "entitled to diplomatic passports".
There's also a fresh attempt to block the public from accessing information about Parliament. They say the Parliamentary Service Commission can deny anyone public information if it is "prejudicial to national security or the interests of Parliament".
The Bill also proposes a maximum fine of Sh 50,000 or up to a year in jail for any MP or staff who leaks confidential information. For one to access the information, they will also swear to respect all the confidentiality clauses.
The lawmakers are also sneaking in an amendment to the Public Finance Management Act to shield the money that is allocated to Parliament from being returned to the National Treasury, if the money is unspent at the end of the financial year.
standard digital