Nairobi, Kenya, Sept 19 – National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has assured Members of Parliament that their car allowances, mileage reimbursements, mortgage, and other benefits will remain intact.
In his opening remarks during an induction workshop for MPs, Wetangula who is also the incoming chairman of the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) said he has held consensus talks with the Salaries Remuneration and Commission (SRC).
“I want to assure you Members that this morning-the reason we came a little late, I was having a meeting with SRC on your behalf, and we have called them to order on a few things and we believe before we finish this induction, I will be able to make several pronouncements on your privileges and your other desired facilities for you to do your work,” he said.
“Nobody in their right frame of mind will interfere with your car allowances, mileage reimbursements and with your mortgage and everything else that you have been having because that is your entitlement,” he added.
The National Assembly speaker assured the legislators that nothing changes henceforth arguing that going forward the House leadership wants to make sure that members “like the veterans will not fill the pinch because somebody is shifting goalposts against you.”
Wetangula advised the new members to take a mortgage scheme as early as possible saying it would be easier for them to service them.
“Take the earliest opportunity to take your mortgage now, it is the cheapest mortgage in the market with 2 to 3 percent interest and buy yourself at least an abode where you can be able to operate from,” he added.
The Lynn Mengich agency abolished sitting and mileage allowances for Members of Parliament with effect from August 9.
MPs earn about Sh5,000 for every sitting and the abolishment of the allowances for plenary sessions in the National Assembly and Senate is meant to ease the pressure on the public sector wage bill which is currently at Sh930.5 billion annually.
While commenting on the composition of the 13th Parliament, Wetangula said that the House reflects new dawn for the country.
“Twelve years ago, we adopted a new constitutional order which has considerably transformed Kenya’s legal, political economic, and social landscape. Since the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution, we have strengthened our governance institutions, improved representation for marginalized groups, and expanded the space for democratic freedom,” Wetangula said.
He further pointed out that the number of female Members of the National Assembly has risen from 76 in the 12th Parliament to 82 in the 13th Parliament, with 29 women having been elected to represent single-member Constituencies.
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