General Secretary of the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Francis Atwoli has demanded for Salary Increment and More Allowances in support of the the proposal to increase the salaries of Members of parliament.
In his speech on Saturday, he said that members of Parliament are the sole responsibilities of their constituents and should be funded.
“That is why many people rely on them (MPs) and they will start many things in their constituencies. If you cut your income, what will respect them as MPs? loss.” Atwoli said. Efforts to compel the 13th Parliament’s Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to resume hearings for public sessions ended last week.
Deputies expressed their displeasure with the commission for new work published in newspapers before the election.
They demanded that the SRC return the party Sh5,000 and a car grant for public meetings at the beginning of each assembly where they bought new cars.
However, SRC chairman Lin Mengich said the sitting allowance has not been removed but added to the MP’s total allowance of Sh710,000.
Also last month, the Supreme Court declared the Constituency Development Fund invalid and unconstitutional, ending a nine-year court battle between members of Parliament and civil society groups.
In its decision, the country’s high court found that the law, which allows lawmakers to manage funds, violates the division of income and the country’s financial law.
The case was filed in the Supreme Court in 2013, but then went to the Supreme Court after the Court of Appeal overturned the High Court’s decision. Also, Atwoli said taxpayers should ensure that MPs are well dressed. that they are not involved in ‘silly’ business that does not match their status.
“Members of parliament should look good, speak well, be seen as parliamentarians and dress well so they don’t dress or act like taxpayers,” he said.
MPs cannot serve their constituents if they are not well-nourished, according to the COTU chairman.
“I think we are not doing well as a country. If you are hungry, if you are left to beg, how do you represent the hungry? Members of parliament behave with dignity and respect as elected leaders,” said Atwoli.
