Why MPs won't be given severance pay

Members of Parliament (MPs) will not be given severance pay for the eight months by which their term will be cut.

Parliamentary Service Commission Chairman Justin Muturi, National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale and Budget and Appropriations Committee Chairman Mutava Musyimi said the payment is not factored in the Budget.

“It is not fair for the press to say that MPs are going to be paid for the eight months,” Mr Duale, who is the MP for Garissa Township, said.

In the committee's report, the allocation to Parliament was reduced to Sh36 billion from Sh40.2 billion that had been requested.

The PSC had asked for Sh45.7 billion, which would have paid for the severance at Sh2.4 billion and gratuity at Sh2.9 billion.

“We had agreed that the ceiling for Parliament would be Sh36 billion, which did not include the severance pay,” said Treasury Principal Secretary Kamau Thugge last week.

On Wednesday, Mr Muturi, the PSC chairman, said pay issues are squarely in the hands of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).

He criticised the media for making it appear as if MPs were going to get the money.

Rev Musyimi said the matter had come up when the Budget Committee was scrutinising the Supplementary Budget and that the SRC and the National Treasury had been asked to talk to the PSC about it.

He said that there was eventually an agreement that there was no way the lawmakers could be paid for the eight months.

“I can confirm that that figure of severance pay is not in the report that is in this House,” added Rev Musyimi.

The confirmation marks a victory for those opposed to the severance pay for the MPs and could affect the proceedings in a case where an individual is seeking to stop the payment.

Parliament would, however, be required to formally make a statement on the matter in court.