Wabunge Kenya waanza mikakati ya kujilimbikiza mishahara wananchi nao wagoma!

[Ab-Titchaz]

Hivi kua mbunge Kenya ni ugonjwa au vipi? Yaani wale jamaa walioondoka walipenda sana hii tabia. Sasa kuna hawa wapya ambao inaonekana hoja yao kubwa ni kujiongeza mishahara hata kabla hawajaanza kazi ya kuwatetea watu wao.
Sina usemi mazee!

MPs sign secret petition for Sh1m tax-free salary and big allowances - Politics - nation.co.ke

Payslip za kutisha wakuu....

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

MP sets stage for battle over pay



By CAROLINE WAFULA cwafula@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Thursday, April 18 2013 at 21:00

In Summary

• Member expected to table petition calling for Serem team to be fired

MPs' battle with the salaries commission over pay goes to the floor of the National Assembly next week.

One of them is expected to present a petition for the disbandment of the salaries team.

Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi has filed the petition with the Clerk of the National Assembly in which he wants Parliament to endorse the removal of the chairperson and members of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.

His key arguments are that the chairperson, Mrs Sarah Serem, has violated, breached, infringed and threatened the Constitution. Mr Linturi cites the Preamble and several Articles in the Constitution, which, he says, Serem's team has violated.

Article 251 says that a member of a commission or a holder of an independent office may be removed only for serious violation of the Constitution or any other law, gross misconduct, physical or mental incapacity, incompetence or bankruptcy.

The salaries commission set a new pay structure under which county governors will earn Sh640,681 while Senators and MPs will earn Sh532,500 in the first year.

Last week, MPs signed a resolution, which the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) will use to negotiate better terms with Mrs Serem's team.

PSC has a representative in the salaries commission.

Among their options is that PSC negotiates to reinstate their monthly pay and perks to Sh851,000 as was the case in the last Parliament.

Distorting salaries

Mr Linturi argues that the salaries team breached the Constitution by "structurally and fundamentally" distorting the salaries of State officers.

"The commission disregarded the principle of transparency and fairness. It discriminated against members of the National Assembly, county representatives, women representatives and governors," says the Igembe South legislator in the petition due to be officially put before Parliament on Tuesday.

He says the commission misinterpreted the pay review contemplated by Article 230 (4)(a) to mean reduction, downgrading and removal instead of enhancing the salaries of State officers.

The petition comes against the backdrop of an agitation by newly elected MPs for a salary increase.

During their induction workshop at Safari Park Hotel last week, the MPs listed their grievances about their pay package and signed a resolution, which was later fine-tuned for "proper presentation."

They argued that the salaries commission failed to follow due procedure in reviewing their salary structure. The MPs have indicated that they would be comfortable with the pay package enjoyed by their predecessors.

The petition received by the Clerk of the National Assembly on Thursday was drafted within the meaning of Article 251 (1) of the Constitution and which outlines the procedure of removing a member of a commission from office or holder of an independent office.

Mr Linturi, a TNA legislator serving his third parliamentary term, says in the petition that he is aggrieved by the actions of the salaries team.

MP sets stage for battle over pay - Politics - nation.co.ke

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

MPs plot revenge against salary review team over pay cut


By Moses Njagih


NAIROBI, KENYA: MPs are plotting a range of schemes to force the Government and the salaries commission to give in to their demands for higher pay.

On Thursday, an MP made public the start of a process they hope will lead to the removal of SRC commissioners, angered by the slashing of their pay from Sh850,000 to Sh532,000.

But The Standard also learnt of at least three other underhand plots the lawmakers are secretly planning to force the Executive to implement salary hikes.

Lawmakers are contemplating exploiting their Budget approval powers to cripple the activities of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) by denying it sufficient funding.

Sources said the sanction could also be extended to other select key institutions to provide the MPs with leverage.

The Government is required to submit the Budget for the new financial year to Parliament by April 30. MPs intend to abuse the new constitutional order that grants Parliament the powers to review budgetary allocations for various ministries, departments and institutions.

The third option MPs are reportedly toying with targets the Value Added Tax Bill, which details new taxation measures to raise additional revenue.

It largely aims to reform the legal framework governing administration and enforcement of the VAT regime, hence its importance to the Government.

The Bill seeks to abolish VAT exemption and zero-rating of agricultural and food items so that they can attract 16 per cent VAT.
Tax reforms

Kenya Revenue Authority has estimated it could raise Sh11 billion through the tax reforms detailed in the Bill, which lapsed in the last Parliament and is scheduled for re-introduction in the current House.

MPs plan to reinstate the tax exemptions, not for the love of Kenyans, but to hit back at the Government.

They reckon that frustrating the Bill intended to raise more revenue will hurt President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration’s ambitious projects requiring massive funding.

Apparently, the new MPs intend to play a game their predecessors in the 10th Parliament perfected to reap concessions: hold the Government hostage on crucial business in the House to force the Executive to give in.

That is what the last Parliament did with the Finance Bill, which they stalled in the House until the Government offered the MPs a tidy Sh3.7 million each as a gratuity, more than double the then severance pay.

On Thursday, Igembe South National Assembly Member Mithika Linturi announced that he had filed a petition with the Clerk of the National Assembly for the removal of all the 13 members of the salaries commission led by chairperson Sarah Serem.

The petition is the first step stipulated in the rigorous process set for removing any constitutional office holder by the Constitution.
Linturi said the law sets the conditions under which a constitutional office holder may be removed.

Article 251 of the Constitution states that such an officer can only be removed from office on grounds of serious violation of the Constitution, gross misconduct in performance, physical or mental incapacity, incompetency and bankruptcy.

In his petition, Linturi said that Serem and his commissioners have violated, infringed on, breached and threatened the Constitution.
“The Commission has treated members of the National Assembly in a degrading and discriminatory manner contrary to Article 27 and 29 of the Constitution,” he says in his petition.

The petition will now go through the due process, with the National Assembly first required to consider if it is satisfied that it discloses sufficient ground, before sending the same to the President.
On receiving the petition from Parliament, the President is expected to suspend the commissioners and appoint a tribunal headed by a superior judge to investigate expeditiously, report facts and make a binding recommendation.

If the grounds raised in the petition were proven, the President would then have to act within 30 days.

New perks

Linturi claimed that they want the commissioners removed because they did not follow the law in setting up the salaries, when they reduced MPs’ pay.

“I do not have a problem with the commission. I am aware that the SRC has a mandate to set salaries, but even with these powers, they should have followed the law by ensuring that they look at all the previous reports and Acts of Parliament,” said Linturi.

He said the Commission did not engage any stakeholder from Parliament as it only gazetted the new pay perks in February, when the candidates had resigned from their jobs and were busy campaigning.

The petition states: “The commission disregarded the principle of transparency and fairness. The commission discriminated against members of the National Assembly, County Representatives and Governors.”

He argues that the Serem-led commission should have looked at other past reports, including the Cockar and the Akiwumi reports that called for an increment of their salaries.

It should also have considered amendments to the Pension Act, National Assembly Remuneration Act, the Parliamentary Service Commission Act and the Appropriation Act to conform to the new salaries, he noted.

On the floor of the House yesterday, MPs continued raging against the SRC over the salaries, which they described as meagre and insufficient to sustain their lifestyles.

Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno dismissed members of the commission as pretending to be salary experts.

Otieno, a former Public Services minister, said that the commission did not conduct any job evaluation in determining MPs’ pay, as they were “pretending to have done”.

“The commission did not do any evaluation. Instead it only divided the cumulative sum of what the MPs in the Tenth Parliament were earning to the current added number of MPs, then somebody comes pretending that they did a job evaluation. By who?” he posed sarcastically.

“Members are now being subjected to extreme humiliation, extreme ridicule, then someone comes talking as if she has become a salary expert,” he added.

“If our affairs are not taken care of, then you can rest assured that corruption is going to creep into the House,” said Kangundo MP Maweu Katatha.

Bomachoge Borabu MP Joel Onyancha accused the SRC of acting with vendetta.

“As a result of the vendetta, the public now vilifies us all as thieves and people who do not deserve better remuneration. It is such an irony that the chairperson (of SRC) was keen on slashing salaries of MPs but silently increased hers by close to Sh600,000,” said Onyancha.

However, The Standard has established that Serem’s salary was in fact increased after the harmonisation of salaries of chairpersons of independent constitutional commissions.

Standard Digital News - Kenya : MPs plot revenge against salary review team over pay cut

 

[mwakilishim]

Cotu backs MPs bid for pay rise

A section of the newly elected Members of the National Assembly. Photo/STEPHEN MUDIARI NATION MEDIA GROUP

By SUNDAY NATION Team newsdesk@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Saturday, April 20 2013 at 16:13

In Summary

• Atwoli says salaries team went against labour laws in reducing remuneration of legislators
• We will move to court to protect popular will of Kenyans, says rights body

The umbrella trade union has rushed to support demands by MPs for increased salaries.

The union said the Salaries and Remuneration Commission was wrong and discriminatory when it reduced their pay.

Cotu (Central Organisation of Trade Unions) boss Francis Atwoli said they would support the planned disbandment of the commission.

But the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights acting chair, Anne Ngugi, said the MPs' ideas, fronted by Igembe South Member Mithika Linturi, are immoral.

The State human rights watchdog says it will sue MPs if they try to disband the salaries commission.

"We will move to court to protect the popular will of Kenyans and the economy," she said.

Ms Ngugi added: "We condemn the apparent bullying and threats to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, a body mandated to set and regulate salaries of state officers".

Mr Linturi on Thursday filed a petition with the Clerk of the National Assembly seeking the removal of the chairperson and members of the commission.

Mr Linturi says that the commission has violated, breached, infringed and threatened the Constitution.

He cites the Preamble and several articles in the Constitution which he says the commission has violated.

If he goes ahead as planned, MPs have the support of Mr Atwoli and, by extension, the workers he represents.

"At no given time can you reduce the salaries of a people. It is segregation and discrimination of wages which is against international labour laws. I fully support the MPs because what was done to them is unfair," said Mr Atwoli.

He argued that MPs have many commitments owing to the nature of their job and, as such, require better pay.

"What kind of an honourable member is poor?" he asked and added, "the country cannot afford to have poor MPs".

Some constitutional experts have argued that threats by the MPs to disband the commission would be futile, saying the legislators lack the power to do so.

But Mr Atwoli thinks otherwise: "Anyone saying that body (the commission) cannot be removed is lying because we are the people who passed the Constitution and we are ready for a referendum should that be the case."

Mr Atwoli spoke while addressing shop stewards at Cotu headquarters in Nairobi on Saturday.

MPs criticised the SRC as they contributed to debate on the President's speech last week, with Kangundo MP Maweu Kyengo Katatha saying the "low" salaries would make corruption attractive to them.

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/politi...pay-rise/-/1064/1753774/-/c4x9k6/-/index.html

 

[Koborer]

Very insensitive, even before they transact the first business in the house?

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Very insensitive, even before they transact the first business in the house?

Well said.

Did you have a chance to read hon Onyoka's facebook page where folks unleashed their vitriol towards him?
He claims his dad left them with huge medical bills that he needs a bigger salary to offset those debts? That
was absurd to say the least. The man needs a job in another sector ASAP!

 

[Edzeame]

That was xracteristic of every regime when it gets into power, and the hypocracy is evident. one fails to see why the salaries and remunaration commission is vilified and given threats of disbandment given it is not a commission formed outside an act of parliament. It is dishearting to see this arrogance from the past extended into an era of a new government

There are no attempts by parliament to shoot down the proposed salary increament but when it comes to appointments of cabinet nominees and other desicions, parliamentary committees get busy to shoot down appointments.

 

[Jammu Africa]

Well said. Did you have a chance to read hon Onyoka's facebook page where folks unleashed their vitriol towards him? He claims his dad left them with huge medical bills that he needs a bigger salary to offset those debts? That was absurd to say the least. The man needs a job in another sector ASAP!

I used to like Onyonka but he seems to have fallen so low,,,,i do not know what has happened with him,,,,,is it that because he is no longer an assistant minister????? He seems to be hallucinating,, saying things as if he is in a deep sleep.

 

[Jammu Africa]

Well said.

Did you have a chance to read hon Onyoka's facebook page where folks unleashed their vitriol towards him?
He claims his dad left them with huge medical bills that he needs a bigger salary to offset those debts? That
was absurd to say the least. The man needs a job in another sector ASAP!

I used to like Onyonka but he seems to have fallen so low,,,,i do not know what has
happened with him,,,,,is it that because he is no longer an assistant minister?????

He seems to be hallucinating,, saying things as if he is in a deep sleep.

The president is advising against any raise in salaries for government
official saying that this may trigger strikes by others demanding the
same.

It is Uhuru Kenyatta who refused to hear of any pay rise,,,during
his time as finance minister.

I do not see them succeeding,,never and not in these times.

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

That was xracteristic of every regime when it gets into power, and the hypocracy is evident. one fails to see why the salaries and remunaration commission is vilified and given threats of disbandment given it is not a commission formed outside an act of parliament. It is dishearting to see this arrogance from the past extended into an era of a new government

There are no attempts by parliament to shoot down the proposed salary increament but when it comes to appointments of cabinet nominees and other desicions, parliamentary committees get busy to shoot down appointments.

Cracks are beginning to emerge amongst these Mpigs!


MPs clash over bid to disband salaries commission

By Standard Reporter

NAIROBI, KENYA: Divisions have emerged among Members of the National Assembly over the campaign for the removal of commissioners in the Salaries and Remuneration Commission ( SRC) as retaliation for slashing their pay.

A section of MPs allied to the Jubilee coalition are plotting to oppose a petition by Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi designed to trigger a tribunal for the removal of the commissioners on allegations of violating the Constitution.

A legislator from Nakuru County on Friday told The Standard On Saturday that like-minded MPs are lobbying to frustrate the Motion by Mr Linturi filed with the Clerk of the National Assembly. Molo MP Jacob Macharia said at least 50 legislators had distanced themselves from the petition saying: "We are in process of lobbying more to join in the bid."

He said they were opposed to the motion on the basis that the current Government wage bill was too high compared to the revenue generated. "I would suggest we first maximise on tax collection by sealing all loopholes and improving our current tax collection capability from 20 per cent to an achievable 90 per cent.
Once such revenue is achieved l would even move a motion to suggest the salary for MP's to be 1.5 million or more," he said.

Mr Macharia said MPs opposed to the salary increment were of the opinion the salary debate must also carry along the issue of minimum wage for all Kenyans that has remained low and always reviewed by 10 per cent annually. "All Kenyans deserve a wage increment. A forum to discuss their salaries and wages and for Parliament to only consider our salaries is both self-centred and not in the national spirit.

"In consideration of the fact that most Kenyans live on less than a dollar a day, putting such a heavy load on the economy at the moment will only make things tighter for the common mwananchi," he said.

Linturi has filed a motion with the clerk of the national assembly seeking to have the commission chaired by Sarah Serem disbanded. The MP has drawn up 10 charges, which he said would prove that the commission violated the law in its move to slash the pay package for the lawmakers.

On Friday, Macharia said they had been holding informal meetings to mobilise like-minded MPS to oppose the motion when and if it gets to the house. There have been fears that the Budget making process could suffer a blow if MPs decide to frustrate the process in their push for a reinstatement of the salaries paid to 10th Parliament legislators by deliberately delaying the appointment of the Cabinet planned for this week.

Standard Digital News - Kenya : MPs clash over bid to disband salaries commission

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Very insensitive, even before they transact the first business in the house?

Boss, here we go....

MPs given Sh5m each to buy luxury cars

Salaries and Remuneration Commission's Chairperson, Sarah Serem addresses the Proposed Remuneration Structures for State Officers in Kenya meeting, held at Eldoret Municipal Town Hall on February 13, 2013. The salaries commission has caved in to MPs demands for huge salaries and benefits. Photo/FILE NATION MEDIA GROUP

By ISAAC ONGIRI iongiri@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Friday, April 26 2013 at 23:30

In Summary

• Each lawmaker awarded Sh5 million car grant after team setting pay for public officers caves in to pressure and limit for mileage allowance raised as stage is set for reviewing monthly pay from Sh535,000 to Sh850,000
• They had threatened to disband salaries commission in pay protest

MPs given Sh5m each to buy luxury cars - Politics - nation.co.ke

 

[livefire]

If she implements this, i will take it to be an approval from the president and deputy president. Serem is a mere technocrat who swallows the bullet in the face of any eventuality; this greedy lot will run Kenya's coffers dry.
I expected some form of leadership from CORD but they are all greedy. Infact they've never discussed this, a watered down opposition. "Recall clause".
.

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

If she implements this, i will take it to be an approval from the president and deputy president. Serem is a mere technocrat who swallows the bullet in the face of any eventuality; this greedy lot will run Kenya's coffers dry.
I expected some form of leadership from CORD but they are all greedy. Infact they've never discussed this, a watered down opposition. "Recall clause".
.

I dont think Serem has a leg to stand on this matter. The Mpigs are pushing for it regardless. Now they have included their hefty salaries on the budget.

MPs add hefty salary increase in budget

By ALEX NDEGWA and ALLAN KISIA
Kenya: Parliament has budgeted for higher salaries for MPs that would nearly double the Sh532,000 monthly pay set by the Salaries Commission.

Calculations based on the budget estimates from the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) indicate that the total basic and personal allowances for each of the 349 MPs, excluding the Speaker, will total Sh991,000.
This figure drops only marginally if the Speaker’s pay, which is usually higher than that of MPs, is included.
Their 67 colleagues in the Senate will receive a gross monthly pay of Sh1.3 million each minus the Speaker of the upper House, according to the budget estimates tabled in Parliament yesterday.
The budgeted figure excludes taxes, which means the take home will be much lower because the new Constitution provides that even the bulk of MPs’ salaries, including because the new Constitution provides that even the bulk of MPs’ salaries, including allowances, be taxed.
Assuming that the perks will attract a conservative 30 per cent tax, each MP would pocket a monthly pay of at least Sh693,821, while Senators would take home Sh968,624 each.
The proposed budget is exclusive of a raft of other benefits for the MPs like the Sh5 million free cash for the purchase of luxury vehicles that they plan to raise to Sh7 million, claiming the initial figure is not enough to buy the sleek cars they insist is their entitlement.
The SRC led by chairperson Sarah Serem had set the MPs’ pay at a more modest Sh532,000 as part of measures to curb the spiraling Government wage bill. After taxation, the MPs would have received Sh372,000.
This was lower than the Sh851,000 MPs in the now defunct Tenth Parliament were earning.
Projections
The infuriated MPs yesterday formally started the process they hope would culminate in the removal of the SRC commissioners whom they accuse of violating the Constitution for chopping their pay.

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?art...title=mps-add-hefty-salary-increase-in-budget

 

[Dr. Job]

[h=1]Treasury unveils Sh1.6trn budget[/h]

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PHOTO | FILE Kenyans file their annual tax returns at Times Tower, the KRA headquarters in Nairobi. The Jubilee government on May 2 released budgetary estimates for the next financial year. NATION MEDIA GROUP

By WACHIRA KANG’ARU wkangaru@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Thursday, May 2 2013 at 23:30
In Summary

• Figures show the Jubilee government is keen on fulfilling promises made during poll campaigns

The government on Thursday unveiled a Sh1.6 trillion expenditure projection as it lay ground to fulfil promises made during campaigns.

In budget estimates tabled on Thursday by the parliamentary Majority Leader, the national government has budgeted for Sh1 trillion with 43 per cent going to development expenditure.

On Tuesday, the government tabled the Division of Revenue Bill 2013 setting Sh198.7 billion as allocation to county governments.

And in line with the new law, the Parliamentary Service Commission submitted a budgetary estimate of Sh24 billion while the Judiciary has budgeted for Sh22 billion. An additional Sh380 billion will go to the consolidated fund, money that goes to pay pension and repay public debt.

This brings the total government expenditure to Sh1.62 trillion, an 11 per cent increase from last year’s budget. Last year, Finance minister Robinson Njeru Githae presented a Sh1.46 trillion budget which was a 22 per cent increase from the Sh1.2 trillion presented in 2011.

The estimates show that the Treasury has worked to factor in funding of Jubilee government campaign promises with key ministries getting the lion’s share.

Among the key pledges were a free solar laptop to every child joining public school next year, free maternity services, free milk programme which President Kenyatta committed to fulfil in the first 100 days.

The Teachers Service Commission retained the giant share, getting Sh143 billion, followed by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology at Sh130 billion.

The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure is to receive Sh125 billion with most of the fund — Sh102 billion — going to development.

The Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government takes the fourth position with Sh108 billion allocation and Devolution and Planning Sh84 billion.

In managing debt, the government has set a limit of Sh114 billion borrowing from the domestic market.

As at the end of March 2013, public debt stood at Sh1.8 trillion or 46.56 per cent of GDP with most of it — 55 per cent being domestic. There is a growing fear that the growth in domestic debt will crowd out private sector borrowing, denying the productive sectors of economy money for expansion.

The slowdown in the 2012 growth is largely attributed to the high interest rates which saw priced credit out of reach for many.

The budget estimates are to be forwarded to the yet to be constituted parliamentary budget committee for review. The budget committee will then prepare a report to be tabled in Parliament for discussion and approval. The report is to take in views from the public.

The scale-down of the county government allocation is expected to raise a storm with the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) saying it will oppose the move.

“The Treasury’s figures have not changed from what it proposed last year. We will go to the Parliamentary Committee on Budget and Appropriation to defend our position. In fact the Senate wants the figure raised to Sh250 billion,” CRA chairman Micah Cheserem told our sister publication Business Daily on Wednesday.

The National Treasury however says CRA estimates that put the allocation at Sh231 billion fails to take into account the new salary scale set out by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.

Treasury unveils Sh1.6trn budget - Politics - nation.co.ke

 

[Dr. Job]

Here these shameless fools embarass us!

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[h=1]House sets aside Sh10bn for perks[/h]

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PHOTO | FILE A past session of the 11th Parliament. NATION MEDIA GROUP
By ISAAC ONGIRI iongiri@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Thursday, May 2 2013 at 23:30
In Summary

• Estimates bound to be met with public anger as lawmakers push for removal of salaries commission

MPs have presented a profligate budget for themselves, which gives each of them Sh7.1 million to buy a luxury car.

Parliament's Sh24 billion budget - a kick in the teeth for burdened taxpayers - appears not to take into account the economic hardships facing the country.

Instead, it might have made a generous provision for an increase in members' salaries which is not only illegal, but also universally unpopular.

Sh10 billion is set aside for MPs' salaries and allowances.

The estimates contain an elaborate development and recurrent expenditure preview for the expanded 420-member bicameral House.

The budget proposal includes Sh7.1 million set aside to fund a controversial car grant for each Senator and MP and a seemingly surging pay package for the leaders which appears to have taken the proposed salary review for the MPs into consideration.

The budget also proposes Sh3.39 billion for the 350 MPs' allowances and an additional Sh1.3 billion for their domestic and foreign travel.

Some Sh1.1 billion has been earmarked to cater for the 67 Senators' salaries with Sh449 million being payment for their basic salaries and Sh663 million for allowances.

An analysis of the estimates indicated that over Sh801,000 has been allocated to cater for allowances and basic salaries for each MP a month and another Sh1.3 million has been budgeted to pay the consolidated allowances and basic salaries for Senators.

Further, the billions would be used to cater for the expanded needs of Parliament which include acquisition and construction of new offices due to the huge number of members currently in the House, additional staff, training and increased foreign and domestic travel needs.

Senators will also use Sh297 million for domestic trips while Sh64 million will fund their foreign travel costs.

Some Sh4 billion has been set aside to fund the construction of office facilities which will include Sh1.2 billion for a new office block, Sh800 million for the refurbishment of the Senate chambers and other offices within Parliament Buildings.

Parliament has also proposed the setting aside of Sh25 million to buy new vehicles and Sh10 million for purchase of household furniture.

Further, the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) has proposed that Sh150 million be used to fund the construction of office facilities at the Centre for Parliamentary Studies in Karen and another Sh100 million to buy additional land for future expansion plans of the institution.

The PSC has also set aside Sh10 million for the purchase of high powered security gadgets to enhance security within the parliamentary complex.

The expansive budget estimates were tabled in the House by the PSC vice-chairman Adan Keynan on Thursday.

Expanded Parliament

"The gross development estimates for the fiscal year 2013/2014 total Sh4 billion. These estimates will be used to cater for the provisions of physical facilities and other infrastructure necessary for the expanded Parliament," said Speaker Justin Muturi.

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/politi...-perks/-/1064/1840010/-/15dip31z/-/index.html

 

[Kabaridi]

Where does this leave the common man?

 

[livefire]

@Ab Tichaz, the govt leadership has failed to come to the rescue of her officer, its a Uhuruto failure the way i see it. See how cleverly the president has avoided the topic. Uncharacteristic of the president and deputy president.

The common man has two options; resist this baloney with the archaic street battles that the authorities hate (not advisable) or better, approve this and soon after all union groups converge to table fresh to be renegotiated salary struxtures with not less than 50% basic salary increment amongst other allowancez with it.

MPS want to send this nation to its knees....and with it i forsee major strikes with breathtaking salary demands. Kabaridi, rest easy.....unions are getting charged......Atwolis move is a calculated move.

 

[Dr. Job]

We must stand up to this House of thieves


By MAINA KIAI
Posted Friday, May 3 2013 at 20:40

In Summary

• They want loans to buy houses; let's make that into grants and hey if the Chief Justice is looking for a house for Sh400 million, surely our MPs need at least a house worth Sh100 million.

Internalising the values of the new Constitution was never going to be easy. In our case, with a new Constitution coming into force without a regime change, as is customary, implementation was always a gigantic task for it asks those used to enjoying tremendous power, privilege and impunity, to impose restrictions, rules and checks on themselves.

Only a few who have been in the throes and centre of power can then turn around and work to limit that power.

The late Senator Mutula Kilonzo was one of those very few with the courage and strength to do this.

He would undoubtedly have been one of the first to oppose the demands for salary increases by MPs, or the disbandment of the Salary and Review Commission.

He had been clear the last time I spent time with him in the Supreme Court, that he would introduce impeachment proceedings against Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto if the court declared them President and Deputy President respectively.

And he stressed, not because they were on opposing sides in the election - he emphasised his respect and warmth towards Kenyatta from their days together in Kanu - but because he felt ashamed that Kenya could be governed by people facing charges of crimes against humanity, and not try to do anything about that.

He said that this was about history, principle and standing up for what is right, even if he was in a minority.

His loss is really felt and Kenya has lost one of its best minds. Mutula was clearly going to be the leader of the opposition by dint of personality and performance.

He was the sort of leader that Kenya needed, in touch with our reality and respectful of our views.

In contrast we are seeing yet again the open greed of our MPs on matters salary. And as always on these issues, there are no partisan divisions.

They are united in greed, arrogance and disrespect for Kenyans and the issues we face.

But then why are we surprised? We elected them, didn't we, just two short months ago accepting the line of "6 piece" even when we knew there were better and more suitable candidates but in the "wrong" party.

They know they have us in their grip and that as long as they can chant the party leaders' name often enough and do not go against him, they are fine.

And now they even have praise singers in Francis Atwoli and George Muchai shamelessly cheering them on, and who are more comfortable in the sycophancy of the days of Daniel arap Moi, than in the demands of the new Constitution.

Our MPs have not internalised the new Constitution and unless we raise our voices and stand up to be counted, they will continue on this path, taking us back to the bad old days.

And it is instructive that despite the power and hold that Uhuru Kenyatta, Raila Odinga and William Ruto have over them, they have all been loudly silent on this matter.

So maybe we should just give them what they want. In fact let's take this to the logical conclusion: They are asking for salaries of Sh1 million; let's offer them Sh5 million each.

They say they can't buy a car good enough for Sh5 million (which Kenya are they living in?); lets increase that to Sh20 million and they can buy however many cars they want for themselves.

They want loans to buy houses; let's make that into grants and hey if the Chief Justice is looking for a house for Sh400 million, surely our MPs need at least a house worth Sh100 million.

They clearly think that our taxes are theirs to do as they please, and damn the consequences. And maybe, just maybe, this Orwellian approach to power will awaken us Kenyans.

For unless we pressure our "leaders", no matter how we voted, these games will not end.

mkiai2000@yahoo.com

We must stand up to this House of thieves - Opinion - nation.co.ke

 

[Kabaridi]

livefire whatever happend to kuppet, is it a dead animal?

 

[Bulesi]

Ab Tichaz, could you please let me know the whereabouts of a former MP during the Moi era whose name was KIPRUTO ARAP KIRWA.