Speakers to get pay rise in new proposal

House Speaker Kenneth Marende, his deputy and four temporary Speakers stand to earn more money if Parliament passes a new Bill that seeks to revise MPs’ allowances.

The proposed responsibility allowances will also be extended to former Speaker Francis ole Kaparo, his then deputy David Musila and former members of the Speaker’s panel if MPs pass the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2012.

The Bill, whose debate was initiated by Lands minister James Orengo on Tuesday, proposes to amend the National Assembly (Remuneration) Act to include the Speaker, his deputy Farah Maalim and the four temporary speakers Gitobu Imanyara (Imenti Central), Philip Kaloki (Kibwezi), Joyce Laboso (Sotik) and Ekwe Ethuro (Turkana Central) in the privileged category of MPs who draw special allowances by virtue of their status in Parliament.

Under the proposed amendments, Mr Marende will be entitled to a Sh20,000 allowance each time he presides over parliamentary business.

Mr Maalim will get Sh15,000 per session while each of the four temporary Speakers will take home Sh12,500 whenever they stand in for the Speaker or his deputy.

The allowances are over and above the Sh3.6 million and Sh2.4 million the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker are respectively entitled to every year as responsibility allowances.

Raila’s opposition

But Prime Minister Raila Odinga has written to Attorney-General Githu Muigai asking him to withdraw the amendments, which he says, are unconstitutional.

Following the amendments sneaked into the Finance Bill, each temporary Speaker will also be entitled to Sh2.4 million a year in parliamentary responsibility allowance.

Parliamentary Service Commission members were handed Sh1.2 million each in parliamentary responsibility allowance for every year served.

The commissioners have not been getting the allowance. (READ: Raila opposes Sh3.7m MPs gratuity)