Citizens must use all means to stop MPs from plundering the nation

Greedy Lot lets kick them out, why are Trying to turn Kenya in to Animal Farm - Mashariaz Gitonga

Posted  Monday, April 15  2013 at  20:00

Even before the dust settles on elections, even before legislators transact any business in the House, they are demanding one million shillings in untaxed salaries.

This is becoming the trend after every election.

Despite the fact that we have in place a legally constituted commission mandated to set salaries for all public officers, including those under the Parliamentary Service Commission, the MPs are threatening to paralyse government business unless their selfish demands are met. Who bewitches Kenyans once elected Members of Parliament?

First, the Constitution is very clear that all Kenyans must pay taxes. This is a mandatory statutory duty by every citizen, and is not negotiable; for we are all the same under the new law. The dishonourable members are not more equal than other Kenyans.

Second, the public viewed MPs’ salaries as too high, unsustainable and disproportionate vis-à-vis those of other workers, and these injustices had to be corrected. The Salaries and Remuneration Commission reduced their pay accordingly. While it is still higher, they are driven by selfishness to try to go against the Constitution to demand more money.

The factors considered by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission were valid and justified. Our economy can’t sustain such a huge wage bill resulting from high untaxed salaries of MPs.

What motivates them to demand more money if not sheer greed?

We need to priorities our Budget on development agenda. This country still urgently requires better equipped and staffed hospitals, roads need to be built, schools are yet to have enough teachers, our police need modern equipment to fight crime, more investment is needed to provide jobs for our youth, we need to boost food security — the list is long. But our MPs only think about their stomachs.

Now, if there’s a time that Kenyans from different political, ethnic, regional, colour, social status and religion are to unite, that time is now. We need to unite against our common enemies, the Members of the Eleventh Parliament.

While the MPs are divided by political affiliations, they are solidly united by greed and show disrespect to the electorate. Kenyans must not just watch.

Let us use all avenues at our disposal to stop them. MPs must be stopped from trying to plunder this nation. From peaceful protests, social media to petitioning our courts, these MPs must be stopped. If need be, we should, as the law requires, execute Article 104, to recall them.

Their greed can’t go untamed.

STANLEY MRUU NGANGA, Kisum
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