Trade unionist Francis Atwoli has criticized efforts to deny members of parliament allowances.
The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General on Sunday, September 25 said MPs are entitled to allowances and decent salaries.
The outspoken leader said the legislators should be well renumerated because many people depend on their income.
“If you say a Member of Parliament cannot be well paid what are you saying, our members of parliament must be unique. So many people depend on them and there are a lot of things they have to initiate in their own constituencies,” Atwoli said.
“If you curtail them from earning then what will give them the dignity as members of parliament then you are doing a disservice to the country,” Atwoli said.
According to Atwoli, the move by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to abolish MP’s plenary sitting allowances and other benefits is likely to push lawmakers into illegal dealings in an attempt to boost their income.
“Our leaders must appear well, must dress well, must have nice cars, must be able to speak, must appear representative and must be seen as members of parliament. It is us as taxpayers to make sure that they are well dressed so that they don’t become conmen or do some other businesses which are not worth a member of parliament,” he added.
He also faulted the Supreme Court for declaring the Constitutional Development Fund (CDF) illegal.
“They cannot be told that they can’t have CDF. I don’t think that we are moving in the right direction they must be paid well and must have allowances,” he said.
“I don’t think whether SRC and other people including our judiciary who have stopped the CDF are doing the right thing. Those are some of the views that Kenyans must reflect back.”
The Apex court in August ruled that the CDF Act violated the constitutional principle on the division of revenue.
The court also found that it offends the division of functions between national and county governments.
