A good number of lawmakers drawn from the National Assembly and the Senate this week voiced their opposition to the proposed salary increments gazetted by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), and which were to take effect on July 1.
Konoin Member of Parliament Nelson Koech, however, says the latest gesture by fellow lawmakers is insincere. The MP says the legislators who have come out to express their rejection of salary hikes have been playing to the public gallery.
He cited the sentiments expressed by Senators during a special sitting on Wednesday called to deliberate on the state of the nation. During the debate, Senators spoke against salary pay hikes, corruption and wastage, the need to restructure government and many other cost-cutting measures to reduce government expenditure. Koech maintains the conversation was anything but honest.
“Yesterday, what I saw in the Senate is the hypocrisy that stinks to the high heavens. These people are hypocrites, they are not honest. These are politicians who are competing to decline salary increment because of the moment” he said
The MP who is also the Chair of the Defense Committee in the National Assembly insists that this is not the time to hoodwink Kenyans but a moment to have an honest conversation on how to take the country forward in light of misgivings raised by Kenyans about the current state of affairs in Kenya.
“To MPs and Senators, I know the hype of the moment has got you. Everyone wants to speak to be seen to be on the right side, but all of you are hypocrites. Let us be very honest,” he charged
Koech, who was speaking during a TV interview Thursday morning, urged the Salaries and Remuneration Commission to take advantage of the moment, where lawmakers are expressing huge support for the reduction of their salaries, to shrink their perks even more.
“I wish SRC could use this opportunity to reduce even further the salaries of these MPs, bring it down to even Ksh. 200,000 because everyone now is declining an increment,” said the Belgut MP
