MPs accused of misconduct

A section of Kenyan parliamentarians want the House speaker Kenneth Marende to take action against certain legislators over public utterances distancing themselves from the decision by parliament to endorse a report that will see their pay perks increase by 50 per cent.

The legislators are accusing certain MP's of misconduct and playing to the public gallery by denouncing the Parliamentary Select Committee report which was unanimously supported by MP's.

Raising on a point of order at parliamentary proceedings Tuesday, assistant minister for defence and MP for Mwingi South pointed out the decision by parliament to embrace Akiwumi's findings was binding to all the 222 legislators irrespective of whether they were present or absent in the chambers as any decisions taken by parliament are deemed to be supported by all.

He hit out at a section of NO campaigners for attempting to politicize the issue on grounds that the increment was bait to cajole legislators opposed to the draft to defect to the Yes camp.

Gwassi MP John Mbadi accused those denouncing the report of failing to oppose the increment on the floor but are instead very vocal at rallies.

Kisumu Town East legislators Shakeel Shabbir also sought guidance on what he says is the negative portrayal of legislators by a certain radio

Meanwhile, presenter whose utterances it says infringed on parliament's integrity and was demeaning to the parliamentary select committee chaired by the speaker charged with presenting the report in parliament.

The speaker is expected to issue a ruling to that effect.

Kajiado central legislator Joseph Nkaissery called on the speaker to penalize name and shame those legislators rejecting the report in public forums and portraying parliamentarians in bad light.

Last week parliament adopted a report by the Parliamentary Select Committee seeking to increase their pay to 1.1million shillings up from 851,000 monthly that will be subjected to tax.

The move has since elicited public outrage among the public led by civil society groups who have since threatened to mobilize a demonstration while the central organization of trade union has warned of an impending national strike for five days should the proposal become law.

At the same time treasury has since announced it cannot afford to fund the increment unless it resorts to borrowing or an increase in taxes, which would have social economic implications.

This comes amid fears that legislators could sabotage the finance bill when presented in parliament if it doesn't factor in their increment which would technically paralyze government operations.