Kenya civil society activists protest over legislators’ pay

Civil Society activists in Kenya Tuesday held a demonstration to protest MPs’ demand for salary increment.

The 'occupy Parliament' protestors blocked the main entrance of the National Assembly waving placards condemning MPs greed.

The demonstration comes a day after the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) ruled out a pay increase for MPs.

On Monday, the SRC said it would neither be cowed nor intimidated by the lawmakers’ threats to sack its commissioners if their pay is not reviewed upwards.

“The threats and intimidation will not stop us from undertaking our mandate. We shall fulfill our mandate as is required by the law,” said SRC chairman Sarah Serem in Nairobi.

“We don’t know which body has the legal mandate to send us home. This, however, is not our concern. Our main worry is how to improve the country’s economy and issue of sustainability of the wage bill.”

MPs had two weeks ago attempted to arm-twist the commission to have them increase their perks.

This was after Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi tabled a petition before the House to have the commissioners removed if they did not yield to their demands.

The MPs want the Sh850,000 pay for the 10th Parliament reinstated because, they claim, the Sh532,000 set by the commission is too little.