Earlier yesterday, a South African MP Nqabayomzi Kwankwa who jetted in the country ahead of a consultative meeting with parliamentarians was shocked to learn about the Kenyan MPs enjoy.
Kenya has always faced a backlash from citizens for paying politicians ‘excessive’ amounts, relative to the respective economic performance hence earning them the tag “Mpigs”.
Kenyan MPs take home Sh710, 000 as basic salary and a number of allowances, implying each member get a minimum of Sh1,378, 000. The allowances include mileage, sitting, responsibility perks.
Generous allowances & benefits
MPs also enjoy a Sh5 million official car grant scheme to buy luxury cars every five-year term, a personal car loan from the government of as much as Sh7 million repayable at an all-time low interest of three percent interest.
They are also entitled to a weekly mileage allowance of Sh109 per kilometre for as many as 750 kilometres per week and a monthly car maintenance allowance of Sh356,525.
The MPs are further eligible for a state-backed mortgage of up to Sh20 million, payable at three percent interest.
They also receive a generous medical allowance for themselves, their spouses and as many as four children under 25 years.
Other allowances include airtime, group life and personal accident cover, travel and notably, allowances for attending Parliament and sitting in committees.
If one is lucky enough to chair a House committee, he or she will earn Sh10,000 for every session, while their deputies are entitled to Sh8,000.
All the legislators get 31 per cent of their basic pay for every year served as severance pay at the end of their five-year term.
Kenyan MP salaries vs the world
A 2013 study by the UK-based Independent Parliamentary Standard Authority and the International Monetary Fund ranked the country’s legislators second, after Nigeria.
They were found to earn more than their counterparts in the United States, Japan and Britain.
