MPs demand pay rise before tax

• Lawmakers want a minimum pay of Sh1.5 million before the taxman is allowed to take his cut.

• An MP earns a minimum of Sh851,000 every month, of which only the basic salary of Sh200,000 is taxed.

Two Kenya MPs have demanded a salary increase before their pay is taxed.

The lawmakers want a minimum pay of Sh1.5 million before the taxman is allowed to take his cut.

Speaking Wednesday while presenting their views to the tribunal tasked with reviewing MPs’ pay and those terms of service, Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo and his Kangundo counterpart Johnstone Muthama said that increasing the salaries was the only way to make the MPs support the tribunal’s recommendations.

The tribunal also heard that “it was only logical” that the President and the Prime Minister earn the same salaries, while the Deputy Prime Ministers and the Vice President earn similar pay.

“The National Accord is very clear, there are two principals... let’s not tribalise or politicise this matter. On principle, the two should be paid the same,” the Gem MP told the 11-member tribunal sitting at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre.

On the other hand, Mr Muthama asked the commission to bar the President, Prime Minister, VP, and ministers from drawing salaries as MPs, saying “they only spend government money and are paid as MPs for services they hardly render.”

The Kangundo MP asked the commission to propose job groups for the President, PM, VP and ministers to allow for effective taxation.

Mr Midiwo said given the current rate of inflation, since the last review, Sh1.5 million would be “the reasonable figure” that MPs should be taking home.

“(Justice (rtd) Majid) Cockar increased our salaries to stop ministers and MPs from harassing Asians for money every Friday,” Mr Midiwo said.

Currently, an MP earns a minimum of Sh851, 000 every month, of which only the basic salary of Sh200,000 is taxed.

The taxation issue has been in the public domain for quite some time, but surprisingly, apart from the media, there were less than 10 members of the public in the hall where the tribunal held its hearings.

Mr Midiwo termed last year's budget proposal to have MPs’ allowances taxed as “mischievous and cheap politics” meant to set the public against the National Assembly.

The tribunal is taxed with reviewing the terms of service of the President, the Vice President, the Prime Minister, MPs and other parliamentary staff. It is expected to collect views from members of the public in all provinces and leaders within the next three months before compiling its report.

The last time the MPs salaries were reviewed was in 2002 by a commission led by Justice (rtd) Majid Cockar. The hearings continue on Thursday.