President Uhuru Kenyatta has refused to sign into law the Parliamentary Pension’s Amendment Bill that seeks to ensure all former MPs get a pension of Kshs 100,000 monthly. MPs who served between 1984-2001 were set to benefit. The bill, which was sponsored by minority leader John Mbadi had already met opposition, with the Treasury advising against the Bill, saying the cost of implementation will be untenable given Kenya’s already strained economy.
In declining to assent to the Bill, President Kenyatta said the cost of implementing the Bill will be too expensive for the taxpayer, with Kshs 440 million needed. He said the role of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission was also ignored in formulating the Bill.
He also noted that it will pose the risk of other members of the public service demanding higher pensions. The basis of the Bill was to help former MPs, with some said to be living in tough conditions. The President has also proposed the deletion of the clause.
