News

Story by NATION Reporter

The Sh333 million MPs awarded themselves as send-off up allowance will be paid from the Parliamentary Service Commission kitty when they go home later this year. Finance minister Amos Kimunya said the money had been provided in this year’s estimates under the PSC budget.

Last week, the MPs voted to have each of them take home Sh1.5 million at the end of the life of the current Parliament. The Ninth Parliament has a total of 224 MPs–210 elected and 12 nominated by main political parties depending on their strength in the House. Each MP will receive a severance allowance of Sh300,000 for every year served, backdated to January 9, 2003, when members of the current Parliament were sworn in. Early last month, Mr Kimunya attempted to move an amendment through which each MP would have received a Sh5.9 million send-off pay.

The minister had also proposed hefty winding-up allowances for the Speaker, his deputy, Government and Opposition chief whips and chairmen of departmental committees. Three MPs who act as temporary deputy speakers were also to carry home additional money in form of severance allowance. Each minister and assistant currently gets a monthly responsibility of Sh200,000 and Sh100,000, respectively. The money is drawn from accounts of respective line ministries as directed by Civil Service head Francis Muthaura.

The public, members of the civil society, religious leaders, and lawyers opposed Mr Kimunya’s proposal. Five civil society were arrested when they led a demonstration in city streets and outside Parliament. They were held at different police stations in the city and later released.

Yesterday, Mr Kimunya declined to declare how much money was paid to risk consultancy firm Kroll Associates UK Ltd to trace billions of stolen public funds stashed in foreign bank accounts. The money paid to the company was among billions the Government spent to deal with graft. He said mechanisms have been set up to deal with those found guilty.

However, he said it will take time before those implicated are punished since economic crimes are committed over a long period and courts require water-tight evidence. A report by Kroll captured on looting from the public purse by key figures in the Kanu government.