Shame of MPs agitating for higher pay and perks

On Friday, Members of Parliament started a new push to have their salaries and allowances increased. In a signed resolution, the MPs want the Parliamentary Service Commission to reinstate the salaries enjoyed by the Tenth Parliament.

The MPs have also threatened to frustrate operations of government if the salaries set by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission are not annulled.

Obviously, the government needs MPs to steer its development agenda through Parliament. In plain language, the MPs intend to blackmail the government into supporting their unrealistic demands. Such belligerence from elected representatives is just unacceptable.

Understandably, the fresh demands have been received with widespread public outrage. The Salaries and Remuneration Commission was formed last year and given constitutional protection precisely because the huge salary disparities in public service were imprudent in the face of myriad development challenges.

Furthermore Parliament, to the consternation of taxpayers, had developed a culture of arbitrarily increasing members’ salaries and allowances every so often in total disregard of availability of resources to cater for such increments.

And it is not like the MPs earn peanuts. On top of a Sh532,500 salary, the MPs earn a Sh5,000 sitting allowance every time they attend proceedings. They also enjoy a Sh20 million mortgage payable at the rate of 3% compared to the current market rate of over 18%.

The MPs need to listen to the voice of reason. The economy can only afford to pay so much. There has to be a clear balance between salaries and funds for development. It wouldn’t make any sense to tax Kenyans to the bone knowing very well that most of the revenue collected will go to pay salaries, leaving little for anything else.

MPs’ concern right now should be a legislative agenda that creates the right environment to grow the economy to allow better wages not just for themselves but all workers in this country.

Instead of agitating for higher pay at every opportunity, MPs should focus on helping the national government realise its development agenda
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