I shall not sign that law raising your perks, Uhuru rebukes MPs

President elect Uhuru Kenyatta has asked newly elected Members of the 12th Parliament to drop their threat to pass a law to award themselves higher salaries.

The President said the MPs, who won seats in the August 8 elections, should drop their threat to amend the decision by the Salaries and Remunerations Commission which slashed salaries of public officers in order to bring equity in the public sector.

The SRC slashed the salaries to reduce the burden on Kenyan tax payers, a move that gained instant support from President Kenyatta.

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New salary Structure  to save Ksh 8 Billion for Kenya taxpayers

Speaking at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Karen, President Kenyatta said it was shameful that the MPs were showing greed even before they are sworn in.

“Be careful because that is the reason why many MPs lost their seats in the election,” said the President as he warned the MPs that they will be acting in futility if they passed any law to amend the decision of the SRC.

“I swear I shall not sign that law. We should understand that we are called to serve the people, not to earn from them,” said the President.

The Orange Democratic Party (ODM) said it did not support the calls for a reversal of the cuts.

“We stand for equity and prudent management of public resources. We cannot therefore promote or be seen to promote wastage, avarice and inequities in the Kenyan society,” the party said in a statement.

“The Orange Democratic Movement wishes to categorically state that the position taken by those members do not represent our position as a Party nor that of the National Super Alliance of which we are affiliate.

According to the SRC te pay cuts are part of a plan to reduce the public sector wage bill by 35 percent and save the country Ksh 8.8 Billion annually. The wage bill currently stands at 52 percent of the gross domestic product.