MPs must know that leadership has a price

It is now official. With the overwhelming approval of the new constitution, Kenyan MPs must now pay taxes like all other Kenyans. It is also gratifying to note that the MPs will no longer have the privilege of increasing their pay at will.

The new law now puts to rest their attempt, in the month of June, to award themselves huge salaries and allowances before the new constitution is effected.

Thank God for the Treasury officials who dismissed their selfish demand.

For many Kenyans outside the political elite, it would be obscene to reward the politicians, most of who have failed to deliver on their election pledges.

Instead such funds should be put into the education sector, which is one of the most neglected public sectors through understaffing.

national challenges

Our MPs seem to think less of such urgent national challenges, which must be dealt with urgently as they have a direct social-economic impact on the country’s development. There is no amount of salary that would make this legislators contended. They should be ignored.

As the dust settles from the referendum campaigns, it is prudent to remind the MPs, that their demands can not be justified as they are flimsy, baseless, egoistic and naive.

Why should we create a society of a few stinky rich social class amidst total penury among majority Kenyans?

Already it is evident that the gap between the poor and the rich in this country is quite big and poses as a threat to peace. There is need for leaders to be role models in national development. The Kenyan currency has continuously lost value in terms of the quantity of goods it can buy in a basket, although it remains strong within the region.

attract investments

The best the MPs can do is to ensure they come with good and business-friendly laws that will help attract more local and international investments.

This will in turn make the economy vibrant and hence generate more wealth from which all Kenyans will draw reasonable salaries and allowances. This is the only way to share the national cake equitably.