Kenyan MPs want Luxury Car Grants of up to 2 billion shillings

Kenya’s Members of Parliament are at it again. Some have called them numerous names from M-Pigs to Greedy, from Sycophants to Incurable Corrupt Fellows but nothing seems to be forthcoming in terms of their character change. Their appetite for more luxurious life seems to have increased as now parliament plans to spend close to two billion shillings on heavy luxurious car grants for newly elected Members of Parliament.

In a move to introduce the expenditure in the 2016/2017 budget, Members of Parliament want funds to be provided for luxury car grants for newly elected legislators. According to the Parliamentary Service Commission, the 2016/2017 budget has to cater for the cost of luxury cars for Members of Parliament who will be elected into the August House during the next General Election that is scheduled to take place in August 8th 2017. This move if implemented, implies that Members of Parliament who will seek re-election in the next General Election will be considered as new and, therefore, making it mandatory for all the 400 plus members legible for the hefty car grant at the expense of the taxpayer.

According to the current recommendation, the 418 members from both houses will be entitled to a free luxury car grant on top of a seven-million car loan setting a stage for another conflict between the public and the legislators. In the recent months, the country has been struggling in terms revenue target and collection as the Kenya Revenue Authority failed twice to hit its target revenue collection with the gap ranging to more than 40 billion shillings. In the supplementary budget that had been drafted by the treasury and before the cabinet, the government plans to recall some of the funds from the ministries and departments as a way of trying to cut down on the cash crisis. What should a common Kenyan do when the MPs have decided to eat?

Article by Juma Fred.