High Court stops MPs Ksh.250K house allowance

The Salaries and Remuneration Commission has been granted orders stopping the Parliamentary Service Commission from paying MPs the disputable house allowance.

The injunction from Presiding Judge John Mativo will remain in force until the SRC case is heard and determined on June 12.

The SRC went to court seeking to recover the allowances it argues are unconstitutional.

The MPs awarded themselves Ksh.25o,ooo in monthly house allowances backdated to October 2018.

Each of the 416 members of parliament that is, 349 National Assembly members and 67 senators were to get the allowance.

The SRC was opposed to this move as it warned the scheme would result in loss of public funds in excess of Ksh.99.5million per month and Ksh.1.194 billion annually.

They are already trying to recover Ksh.700million already paid to the MPs.

The salaries’ body warns that the decision will set a dangerous precedent in the management of public funds if allowed to stand.

Through their lawyer Peter Wanyama, the SRC has sued the PSC, clerks of the both Houses and members of the PSC including speaker Justin Muturi.

In his defence, Speaker Muturi said it was not fair to deny a duly elected MP house benefits whereas other appointed officials  were given the benefits.

“Why would you pay the CASs (Chief Administrative Secretaries) … a housing allowance and not pay the women representative for Nairobi who defeated her a housing benefit I mean it’s like a crime to have won the election,” he said during a past interview.

In January, the PSC wrote a memorandum to the SRC requesting for approval for monthly house allowance which was to enable the MPs rent houses in Nairobi ‘befitting their stature’.

The request was turned down.