President must reject MPs pension increment

What you need to know:

  • Recognition and appreciation of those who have served the public is noble.
  • Several people have rendered distinguished service to the nation and, since retirement, have fallen into bad times.

MPs have stirred a fresh storm with the latest amendment to their retirement law. Specifically, they have voted to increase the monthly pension for former MPs and the argument is that they want to cushion the leaders from impoverishment, having devoted their life to serving the public.

In that context, those who served as MPs between 1984 and 2001 and who have been receiving a monthly pension of Sh33,000, will henceforth enjoy Sh100,000 in monthly pay.

Recognition and appreciation of those who have served the public is noble. However, every action has to be evaluated against other variables to determine if the course taken is the best.

The first point of concern is the discrimination in application of this principle of appreciating public workers. Several people have rendered distinguished service to the nation and, since retirement, have fallen into bad times. Nobody cares about them. They have to find their own ways and means to survive on measly pension.

Second, the very act of seeking elective position is never inspired by altruism. On the contrary, it is pursuit of power and self-interest. Few of the sitting and former MPs can convince anyone that they are working in the interest of the citizens. So, it is contestable why the taxpayers should cushion fellows who, of their own volition, sought elective positions.

Third, many past MPs moved on to pursue other interests, some securing equally good jobs and from which they draw good pensions. With the new plan, such fellows will be enjoying double pension.

Importantly, the country is bleeding due to economic recession. Every sector of the economy is feeling the heat and workers and business people have to make do with dramatically reduced incomes.

 In such circumstances, it is insensitive for MPs to seek high incomes for their predecessors. But it should not be surprising if this is not a ploy by the MPs to raise their pension, too, in the near future. It is a matter of self-interest.

The former MPs do not deserve the new pension; they are not more special than others. We ask President Uhuru Kenyatta to reject the amendment.