Senators to earn more than National Assembly members

By Peter Opiyo

Kenyans will pay Sh500 million for MPs’ taxes this financial year. This will take care of monies the legislators must pay the tax collector for the remainder of their term.

And senators will earn Sh5,000 more than the members of the National Assembly, according to the budget estimates presented to Parliament. Senators will earn a basic salary of Sh205,882 compared to the National Assembly members’ Sh200,285.

Parliament requires Sh18.1 billion in 2012/2013 from the Treasury to run the Bicameral set up that includes the 68-member senate and the 350-member National Assembly.

According to the parliamentary estimates, Parliamentary Service Commission has asked for Sh500 million from the Treasury to offset the MPs’ tax arrears for the remainder of their term.

"This amount will cater for payment of taxes for MPs for the period remaining till the next Parliament," read the estimates tabled by PSC Vice Chairman Adan Keynan.

This would be in addition to Sh2 billion that was taken from the Contingency Fund last year to foot the MPs’ tax arrears for 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 financial years.

Senate would take the entire Sh4.1 billion for development expenditure as Parliament sets up facilities to put up infrastructure for the Bicameral Parliament. The recurrent expenditure stands at Sh13.9 billion.

Also contained in the estimates is MPs’ gratuity of Sh3.7 million each payable to them at the end of their term. Sh868.4 million has been set aside for this.

"This allocation will be used to cater for payment of winding up allowances of the MPs at the expiry of their five-year Parliamentary term and also pay for gratuity for former MPs," read the Estimates.

Parliament would spend Sh150 million to buy a house for the Speaker of the Senate and Sh700 million has been set aside to refurbish the Old Chamber to house the Senate while Sh30 million has been set aside to buy the mace, a symbol of parliamentary authority, for the Senate Chamber.

MPs would also see their car grants go up from around Sh700 million last year to Sh1 billion while that of the senators stand at Sh338 million.

Owing to the expected increase in the number of staff and MPs, Sh1.2 billion shall be used to secure Protection House from the Ministry of Housing and Sh500 million used for the construction of a new office block. Refurbishment of leased offices would take up Sh400 million while Sh700 million would be for the purchase of a building within the envisaged Parliamentary Square.

The estimates would now be debated and approved by Parliament to secure funding from the Treasury.