Speaker asks MPs to pay tax

• Marende urges them to emulate three colleagues who have embraced the proposal

Said Mr Kalonzo: “This is indeed a matter of concern to many Kenyans, and I will take it as a challenge to urge MPs to get their allowances taxed.”

On his part, the PM, who had also met the MPs from the United Kingdom separately, said he understood the financial pressure lawmakers were under after being sworn-in and taking mortgages and other loans, but he supported calls that they must pay taxes like other Kenyans.

The delegation of six members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association - UK said they were in the country on a one-week mission to assess how Parliament and the country were dealing with the post-elections crisis.

Mr Evans said they were keen to learn how the Government and Parliament will implement the controversial Waki report on the poll chaos and the Kriegler report on the flaws in the electoral system.

Promote reforms

“I believe that Kenyan MPs must work to promote and strengthen democracy and promote reforms as per the wishes of the public,” Mr Evans said.

The visiting MP said they were touched on Sunday during a tour of a camp for the internally displaced persons in Naivasha to come face to face with the impact of the chaos.

Mr Evans said they were looking forward to meeting MPs and top Government officials to get more information about developments since the December polls.

“We are here to promote dialogue between our Parliament and your Parliament. We are also here to see how you are promoting reforms in Parliament and in the Constitution,” the British MP said.

The Speaker welcomed the delegation, saying Kenyan MPs hoped to learn the best practices from their British counterparts in order to discharge their duties in and out of Parliament.