Raila opposes MPs hefty gratuity award

By PMPS

NAIROBI, KENYA: Prime Minister Raila Odinga has opposed a move by MPs to award themselves hefty gratuity payments.

The PM said he has studied the two bills passed by MPs and was consulting with President Kibaki so as to do the right thing for Kenyans.

He said the passage of the Bills amounted to treachery by Parliament saying it is an attempt by MPs to blackmail, arm twist and even bribe the Executive in order to have their way.

“The recommendations of the two Bills are unacceptable, unjustifiable and border on criminality,” said Raila in a statement.

He said the Bills will overshadow the significant achievements that the Tenth Parliament and the Grand Coalition Government have been credited with.

“In a nation struggling with hunger, insecurity, unemployment, wanting health services, rising cost of education and numerous other shortcomings, I find no words to explain and justify the proposed packages to our suffering citizens,” he said.

He added; “This runaway greed and callousness must be condemned and rejected by all Kenyans. I condemn and reject this package. We neither need it, nor can we afford it.”

MPs recently passed the Presidential Retirement Benefits (Amendment) Bill and the Retirement Benefits (Deputy President and Designated State Officers) Bill.

The Bills saw MPs reward themselves hefty gratuity payments of Sh9.3 million each as the Tenth Parliament wound up its sittings.

They also lavished President Kibaki with a retirement package handing him Sh12.6 million lump sum pay. On top of this the President would get Sh560,000 monthly pension, an entertainment allowance of Sh105,000 and Sh161,000 house allowance. The President earns a monthly basic salary of Sh700,000.

Also to benefit are Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Speaker Kenneth Marende and his Deputy Farah Maalim, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his deputies Uhuru Kenyatta and Musalia Mudavadi. In the gravy train are heads of security forces, the Attorney General, the Chief Justice and his Deputy, Secretary to the Cabinet and the Attorney General.

The MPs reinstated the Sh9.3 million gratuity payments rejected by President Kibaki just less than a month ago. They sneaked it in through The Retirement Benefits (Deputy President and Designated State Officers) Bill 2012.