I will take a 15pc pay cut, says Duale

Majority Leader in the National Assembly Aden Bare Duale Saturday said he would reduce his salary by 15 per cent.

Mr Duale said he would take the pay cut if Parliament fails to approve a Bill that seeks to reduce constitutional commissioners to three members.

Addressing journalists after marking International Women day at Garissa Women’s Prison, Mr Duale said he would initiate a bill in Parliament seeking to reduce all constitutional commissioners to three members in order to cut the country’s wage bill.

If the Bill does not pass, Mr Duale said he would personally follow in the footsteps of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto and reduce his salary by 15 per cent.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy on Friday reduced their salaries by 20 per cent while the Cabinet Secretaries offered to reduce theirs by 10 per cent.

The Majority Leader said the President and his deputy had set a good example.

“The people of Kenya want to grow the economy, they need hospitals, schools, roads, we cannot pay all the money on salaries in expense of development, if Parliament fails to pass this Bill then I will reduce my salary by 15 per cent,” said the lawmaker.

He said if the Bill were to sail through, it would reduce commissioners to three members who would also be working part time.

This, he said, would trim down the money used on salaries and other allowances.

Mr Duale, who is also Garissa Township MP, said they would sit with the Salaries and Remuneration commission on Monday to discuss on how to reduce the wage bill that is threatening development in the country.

“We will discuss the move by the president and his deputy to reduce their salary by 20 per cent on Tuesday, the wage is at Sh400 billion this is unacceptable,” said Mr Duale.