Author: Moses Nyamori
AfricaPress-Kenya: President Uhuru Kenyatta has rejected Sh100,000 monthly pension approved by the National Assembly for former MPs.
In a memorandum to the House yesterday, the Head of State refused to assent to the Parliamentary Pension (Amendment) Bill, 2019 citing a Sh444 million annual cost implication.
The president said awarding the millions of shillings to the 150 former lawmakers would trigger similar demands by other retired public officers. He described the ripple effect of assenting to the Bill as fiscally unsustainable.
MPs approved the pension for their predecessors who served between 1984 and 2001. “The proposed pension payment will result in annual cost implication of about Sh444 million. Added to this will be the almost certain demand for similar upward review of pension benefits by other retired State and public officers, which is within their right to demand,” said Uhuru. He added,
“The resultant ripple effect is unaffordable and fiscally unsustainable.” The president noted that members’ pensions under the Pension Act are calculated according to the contributions paid to the scheme during their parliamentary term.
He observed that the Bill failed to use members’ contribution in calculating their benefits.
The Head of State further accused the House of overlooking the mandate of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission in coming up with the Sh100,000 pension for former MPs.
“The Bill overlooks the mandate of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission under the Constitution, which comprises, among other things, the setting and review of remuneration and benefits for all State officers, who include Members of Parliament,” he said. The House will have to marshal two-thirds majority to overturn the president’s memorandum.
The National Assembly has 21 days to consider the memorandum that has since been committed to the Finance and National Planning Committee chaired by Homa Bay Woman Rep Gladys Wanga. The Bill sponsored by Minority Leader John Mbadi had sought to cushion former MPs.
“We are passing this Bill for elderly former MPs. I wanted the former MPs to get something to sustain themselves,” said Mbadi. “When you meet some of these MPs and look at their shoes you sympathise with them. We must support this Bill; any of us could be a former MP any time,” said Minority Whip Junet Mohammed.
The National Treasury had opposed the Bill citing future demands for pension increment by former MPs. “A former MP getting Sh101,415 would feel aggrieved that he or she served for a long time and is now getting the same amount as those who were in Parliament for one or two terms,” Treasury PS Julius Muia said in a letter to the National Assembly Clerk Michael Sialai.
