Churches criticise bid by MPs to raise pay

By JAMES NGUNJIRI ngunjirij@ke.nationmedia.com AND JUSTUS WANGA jwanga@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Sunday, May 5   2013 at  23:30

The National Council of Churches of Kenya has condemned the bid by MPs to increase their pay and disband the salaries commission.

The NCCK Central region has expressed dismay at the lawmakers’ efforts to subvert the country’s Constitution.

The church leaders said while the Constitution is very clear that only the Salaries and Remuneration Commission can determine the pay and other benefits for public servants, the MPs are seeking to “bulldoze” their way into higher salaries.

The regional chairman, the Reverend Hiram Githaiga, said they find this action despicable and an insult to Kenyans.

“It is our plea to the President that he protect the Constitution of Kenya as he swore during his inauguration and use all possible means to prevent the attempts by MPs to manipulate it,” said the Rev Githaiga.

He was speaking at Nyeri Technical Training Institute during the 10th NCCK regional conference.

The cleric said their stand is that the salaries commission should not be disbanded.

The Rev Githaiga said it is a constitutional commission put in place to determine the salaries of all public officers in Kenya.

NCCK deputy general secretary Oliver Kisaka said the MPs should make laws that improve the living standards of Kenyans. “In that case they will not be the ones who will be going around making donations to their constituents,” he said.

At the same time, Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki on Sunday cautioned MPs against their threat to disband the salaries commission for failing to bow to their demands for higher perks. “Their grievances might be genuine but their approach is disruptive,” he said.

Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi has filed a motion in Parliament seeking to have members of the salaries team sent home.