A Kenyan Member of Parliament (MP) works 20 hours a week, and at most 12 days a month. That is, if they have attended parliament sessions consistently. Parliament sessions in the 5 year term are scattered, with numerous breaks making MPs employees with the longest off days in their working contracts. In essence, MPs are expected to be visiting their constituencies during these off days. The crude reality is, it does not happen so and when they do visit, rarely is it a work related trip.

According to the National assembly remuneration act Kenyan MPs earn a basic salary of KES 200,000 and a total of KES 651, 000 in allowances every month. In total, the honorable members take home KES 851,000 a month on average with other benefits which bring the figure in excess of KES  1 million . This, according to house speaker Kenneth Marende is 'peanuts' and MPs should pay more for serving the people. Marende's sentiments were this week met with public outrage with Kenyans asking that the MPs salaries be halved instead.

Workload and Comparison

The house speaker defended MPs saying they play complex and diverse roles as legislators and constituency representatives which require them to assist even the destitute in their areas. Marende says MPs do a lot of work representing their constituents, debating bills and monitoring other state offices in the country. The speaker is particularly not happy that some government officials vetted by parliament and regulated by the same are paid more than the MPs are paid.

“The emerging trend that is being encouraged to take root is worrisome and to my mind, is untenable or simply unjust. MPs gross package is Sh851, 000." Marende said during the launch of Salaries and Remuneration Commission’s job evaluation for state officers and constitutional offices held in Nairobi this month.

"My moles tell me for comparative purposes that the KRA commissioner general, an officer who reports to Parliament, takes home a total of KES 1.5 million while his commissioners earn an average of KES 1 million per month. The pay of the Finance ministry PS  is KES 1.13 million, that of the CIC chair is KES 1.24 million with his members KES 1.14 million.... This commission reports to the CIOC whose members earn KES 851, 000." Marende said.

Allowances

"The JSC members receive a sitting allowance of KES 80, 000 against MPs average of KES 10, 000 and the parliamentary committee allowance of KES 5, 000. Therefore, the remuneration of state officers no doubt requires harmonization and equity as well as a measure of parity recognizing the roles and responsibilities of each category,” The speaker said.

In May this year, parliament hurriedly passed amendments to add hefty sendoffs and allowances to their salaries, a move that many viewed as selfish. The MPs allegedly passed the amendments as a reward for passing the contentious Finance Bill 2012 that was long overdue. The amendments raised the severance allowance of all members of parliament from KES 300,000 per year to KES 744,000 for the entire time they have served as MPs.

Taxes

Members of parliament, with the exception of few refused strongly the idea of  paying taxes. Parliament has however paid Sh2 billion to foot tax arrears for all the 224 MPs during 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 financial years. Taxes are only deducted from the KES 200,000 basic pay MPs earn.

Fact File

Members of Parliament     -  224 (210 elected and12 nominated)

Basic Salary                            - KES 200,000

Allowances                            - KES 651,000

Fringe Benefits                     - KES 600,000 (varying)

"Members of Parliament are servants of the people called upon to serve their people. Their remuneration should, therefore, not be designed in such a manner, as top executives in the private sector." - Akiwumi report on Increment of MPs salaries.

Minimum Wage

In May this year, the Labor Minister announced that minimum wage would be increased by 13.1% to KES 8, 579  from the figure set in 2011. Casual laborers, house helps and many other workers in Kenya earn in this bracket. With high prices of food in the country, even with falling inflation rates, this kind of pay can justifiably be put as 'peanuts'.

An MPs salary, working 12 days, for a month (without fringe benefits) can pay a minimum wage salary for 8 years.