Midiwo wants constituencies reduced to 150

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Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo at a past function in Bondo, Siaya County. Photo/JACOB OWITI  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By GODFREY OMBOGO
Posted  Sunday, September 16  2012 at  10:30

IN SUMMARY

• Mr Midiwo says a high wage bill would deprive the country money meant for economic development
• Kenya with a population estimate of 40 million people does not require 400 legislators
• Calls to reduce MPs salaries is also unnecessary, because they (MPs) will continue stealing

e Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo wants a constitutional amendment be introduced in Parliament that will reduce the number of constituencies to at least 150 before the General Election in order to avoid a high wage bill.

Mr Midiwo over the weekend said a high wage bill would deprive the country money meant for economic development.

“The issue is very critical and we have to be bold enough and face it. Sometimes we have to make very hard decisions like this one,” he said.

Mr Midiwo, who is also the joint government chief whip noted that Kenya with a population estimate of 40 million people does not require 400 legislators as compared to the US, which has a population of 320 million but has 535 legislators or India with a population of 1.6 billion but has 560 legislators.

“This country can’t afford to pay many MPs unless we are crazy. The Salaries and Remuneration Commission estimates that it will need over Sh4 billion monthly for MPs salaries. The amount can be used to rebuild roads in the country,” he said.

"Calls to reduce MPs salaries is also unnecessary, because they (MPs) will continue stealing, just have few and pay them well," he added.

He said the move will also avert the strikes by civil servants because the government will shall be able to pay them better.

The Constitution stipulates that there will be 290 elected and 12 nominated Members of Parliament as well as 47 Women Representatives at the National Assembly after the March polls next year.

There will also be 47 Senators, 16 nominated women, two youth representatives and two people representing persons with disabilities at the Senate.

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Others at the Senate will include two speakers, one for each house, this totals to 416 legislators which, according to Mr Midiwo, is too large a number for a “country with such a small population”.

He also said that parliament will devise a formula to ensure that at least a third of the members are women.