Speaker Justin Muturi wants MPs’ sitting allowances scrapped

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has recommended for immediate scrapping of all sitting allowances in the National assembly arguing that they have watered down the proper functioning of the Parliamentary committees.

The Speaker, who chose to trend on a rather sensitive road that will put him and the Members of Parliament at crossroads, said MPs are no longer interested in dispensing their duties as committee members but only make technical appearances so as to have the allowances paid out.

“The issue that was raised about allowances, and I know when I speak about this some people will think I am out of my mind, need to be addressed. Why should I be paid for attending a seminar and dispensing my duties?” posed Muturi when addressing the President’s roundtable at State House, Nairobi.

“If you are elected to represent a constituency, you are paid a salary, to go and represent. Even committees with 29 members, to raise quorum is a big problem.”

Muturi said that Cabinet Secretaries have been complaining that committee members have been inviting them and keeping them for hours waiting since the members cannot meet the threshold to proceed with the sitting.

He attributes this to the MPs scramble for allowances at the expense of dispensing their constitutional mandates.

He further argued that the MPs are also in very many committees which ends up complicating the matter further and affecting the operations of some committees since members may have meetings scheduled co-currently.

However, in what may seem as a contradiction, the National Assembly Speaker suggested that the allowances be included in their salaries.

“Can it be put together in our salaries so that we know whether we are sitting or standing we know we have a responsibility,” said Muturi.                                   

Last year, MPs were in a push to review their allowances further upwards.

Currently, members sitting allowance is at 5,000 shillings per session, while committee chairpersons get 15,000 shillings per sitting.

“Since SRC is doing a good job reviewing and advising, including the committee which I chair, this thing about sitting allowance, sleeping, standing allowance, I want to encourage ourselves to holistically address it, so that everybody does their work,” said Muturi.

But some Members of Parliament say it is an emotive matter that need be addressed by Parliamentarians.

“We should concentrate on the fight against corruption, grand corruption. Parliament has started to bite and work well, the allowances have been used to cushion MPs from corruption and greed,” said Nyeri Women Representative Priscilla Nyokabi.

“It’s a good idea. Nevertheless, it is an opinion but should be discussed in the right forum, maybe a Kamukunji or floor of the House,” noted Junet Mohamed, the Suna East MP.      

Three years into the current life of the 11^th parliament, MPs have made attempts to have their remunerations increased from their basic pay of 532,500 shillings and various allowances that amount to nearly 560,000 shillings.

But the question is: will MPs concede the allowances? Or was the Speaker making a populist remark?