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Uhuru Says No to Signing of Proposed Bill Increasing MPs Earnings

BY Soko Directory Team · December 6, 2018 08:12 am

“The people have said no, and I am with them on this one” was the reason President Uhuru Kenyatta gave regarding the signing of the Proposed Bill by Members of Parliament (MPs) seeking a better pay.

President Uhuru publicly stated that he will not support the idea of MPs getting more of house allowances, enhanced insurance cover, and car loans at the expense of the common citizen.

Speaking in Kiambu County, the President said that Kenyans are fed up with leaders who seek to live better at their expense.

The topic, which has sparked public condemnation saw the head of state claim that he has “zero chills” to the MP’s sentiments. He noted that even if they hate him for his words, he will not retreat for it is for the good of the public who are tired of the lawmakers always increasing their salary.

The President’s statement that he will not sign the bill goes in alignment with his previous stand in opposing the bill, which, as he states, is an unnecessary burden to the people of Kenya.

Some MPs, on the other hand, have vowed to convince their colleagues to pass the bill, which has passed the Second Reading and is nearing the final stages.

The President supported the idea of voting out selfish and greedy leaders saying that they should stop playing with public funds meant for development and bettering living standards.

The new bill introduces a clause stating that all the 416 MPs in the National Assembly and the Senate get a car loan, a vehicle fuelled and maintained by taxpayers, and a house allowance. Consequently, the MPs also want enhanced medical cover with funds set aside for all the constituencies for “monitoring and evaluation of national government projects, as well as public participation in parliamentary affairs.”

Apparently, the figure for a car grant the MPs want is 7 million shillings, whereas that of housing allowance is a mortgage facility worth 20 million shillings. The medical scheme, as stated by the bill, includes a 10 million-shilling inpatient cover, 300,000 shillings for outpatient with the amount for dental care and maternity standing at 75,000 and 150,000 shillings respectively.

Opposition and ODM party leader Raila Odinga has opposed the bill saying it better be discarded for it is a case of grand larceny, which is highly unacceptable.

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