Parliament to form committee on wage bill
Kieni Member of Parliament Kanini Kega. He has revealed that the National Assembly has set aside Sh80 million for setting up of a mediation committee to audit the Constitution in order to look into ways of reducing the ballooning national wage bill. PHOTO/FILE
What you need to know:
- Kieni MP Kanini Kega said 80 per cent of the National Assembly members are for the formation of the committee which will be seeking to look at the people’s expectations.
- Mr Kega stated that he is ready for a 10 per cent pay cut even as the government targets to reduce the wage bill by Sh100 billion.
- He said the government is focused on value addition and reduction of production costs which will translate to a sustainable cost of living.
The National Assembly has set aside Sh80 million for setting up of a mediation committee to audit the Constitution.
The aim of this committee will be to look into ways of reducing the current high wage bill, an MP said Wednesday.
Speaking to Nation.co.ke, Kieni Member of Parliament Kanini Kega said 80 per cent of the National Assembly members are for the formation of the committee which will be seeking to look at the people’s expectations.
Mr Kega argued that the current national wage bill is not sustainable.
He added that President Uhuru Kenyatta’s efforts at taming it through wage cuts on top government officials pay was a goodwill gesture but was still a drop in the ocean.
Mr Kega stated that he is ready for a 10 per cent pay cut even as the government targets to reduce the wage bill by Sh100 billion.
The more than 400 MPs inclusive of senators and members of National Assembly take home a basic pay of Sh532,500 in the first year rising to Sh710,000 by the fifth year exclusive of allowances.
“This is clearly voluntary and I am ready to take a 10 per cent of whatever I earn as a good will gesture for the other sectors to follow suit although it should not be forced,” the MP said.
He however added that a holistic approach needed to be applied in order to reduce wastages in public spending.
He said tax payers spend many of their hours toiling and working to pay to government officers and that the move to reduce salaries for the chief executive officers of parastatals should be embraced by all constitutional commissions and independent offices.
NATIONAL DEBATE
However, he noted that while the pay cuts may not have a significant impact on the economy of the country, this would trigger a national debate on the cost of living which is very wanting.
Further, he said, the government is focused on value addition and reduction of production costs which will translate to a sustainable cost of living.
“We have to support the president’s move if we are to achieve any development.
Tax payers are working longer hours just to sustain the Sh2-3 million salaries that go to parastatal’s chiefs in the country and it is time we check on that as law makers.
As National Assembly we are set to expose extravagant members who are out to ridicule the sweat of tax payers and the audit would reveal the ‘ghosts’,” said Mr Kega.
