Police fire tear gas to disperse dozens protesting proposed bonus for Kenyan lawmakers

NAIROBI, Kenya: Police fired tear gas to disperse dozens of human rights and anti-graft activists who were demonstrating in the Kenyan capital Tuesday against a proposal to award lawmakers bonuses ahead of upcoming elections.

Police arrested four people, including Mwalimu Mati, a former head of Transparency International's Kenya chapter.

"We have been arrested for trying to prevent the theft of money by parliamentarians," Mati shouted as policemen pushed him into a police holding cell next to the National Assembly.

Kenyan lawmakers are among the best paid in Africa and over the past four years have been accused of being eager to increase their pay and benefits, while their constituents remain poor. About 46 percent of Kenyans live below the poverty line, according to government figures.

This week lawmakers are expected to consider a proposal to award themselves each 5.9 million shillings (US$87,407; €63,992) as a one-off payment when they finish their five-year term in parliament later this year.

Kenya's National Assembly has 222 members.

"It is grand corruption, where parliamentarians are using public office to enrich themselves," said Cyprian Nyamwamu of the National Convention Executive Council, who was also arrested.

Kenya is scheduled to hold elections in December, but a date has not been set.

The average monthly salary and allowances for a Kenyan lawmaker is 877,500 Kenyan shillings (US$13,000; about €9,500). The average monthly income for a Kenyan is 3,200 Kenyan shillings (US$47; about €34), according to the Movement for Political Accountability, a nonpartisan coalition of watchdog organizations.