Parliament has allocated more than Sh2.4 billion to MPs to hire 2,360 aides and rent offices in their constituencies.
An
internal memo obtained by the Saturday Nation shows that the
Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) set aside Sh2.3 billion for
offices and support staff for the 337 elected MPs from July 1.
Interestingly,
Sh40.4 million of the allocation will be spent on soft drinks, tea and
lunch. Another Sh80.8 million will be spent on phone call expenses for
the lawmakers’ assistants.
The 32 nominated MPs have
been allocated an extra Sh48 million to recruit three aides each — a
driver, a personal assistant and a secretary.
Their
elected colleagues are allowed seven aides: A personal assistant,
constituency office manager, deputy constituency office manager, office
secretary, two guards and an office assistant.
Currently,
elected MPs are allocated Sh390,000 each for the same services, but as
from July 1 this goes up by a whopping 47.1 per cent, according to the
memo signed by principal accounts controller Samuel Obudo.
The new allocations will see elected MPs get Sh570,000 a month, or Sh2.3 billion per year, up from Sh1.3 billion.
Nominated MPs will get Sh48.6 million, up from Sh34 million.
The
Sh570,000 monthly budget for elected MPs includes Sh199,500 for
expenses which excludes the millions allocated for office rentals for
the 337 elected MPs.
The money is wired into a constituency account controlled by the MPs and their staff on a quarterly basis.
The
handsome allocation appears to have been made without consulting the
Salaries and Remunerations Commission despite its significant effect on
the exchequer.
Senate clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye confirmed
that the allocation had been approved by the Parliamentary Service
Commission. He said the hiring should be done in line with regulations.
“Recruitment
is governed by a legislative regime; namely the Parliamentary Service
Act and Constituency Offices Regulations,” said Mr Nyegenye.
The aides will be hired on contract with the MPs supervising them, including meting out disciplinary measures.
“Disciplinary
powers shall be vested on the member in consultation with the
Parliamentary Service Commission,” reads a document guiding the
recruitment.
In his memo dated April 2, 2014 Mr Obudo
says: “The Parliamentary Service Commission during its 180th meeting on
August 27 approved a 30 per cent increase in counties/constituencies
office allocation of funds.”
Mr Obudo clarifies that
the commission increased rental rates to Sh55,000 for offices in
Nairobi, Sh42,000 for offices at county headquarters and Sh32,000 for
the rest of the country.
Previously, Sh42,000 was allocated for offices in Nairobi.
However,
MPs already have offices and staff at the CDF headquarters whose
construction was funded by the Treasury while those in Nairobi also have
space at Continental House.
Mr Nyegenye said an
additional Sh600,000 is allocated to all elected MPs at the start of
their term to buy furniture for their offices, gobbling up Sh202
million.
Parliament has barred MPs from renting offices they own, those belonging to their relatives or those in their homes.
Another
memo issued before the July salary increments for constituency office
staff were approved indicates that constituency office managers and
personal assistants should earn a minimum of Sh40,000 a month while
deputy managers get Sh30,000.
The memo further says the
salaries of secretaries, guards and assistants should not be below the
minimum wage. No maximum limit is set for all the positions.
Over
and above all these lavish provisions, including the controversial MPs’
salaries, Parliament also pays the lawmakers’ bodyguards allowances
over and above their salaries.
The Parliamentary
Service Commission confirmed it pays between Sh24,000 to Sh35,000
monthly for the bodyguards. Officers at the Parliament Police Station
also benefit from the allowance.
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