'My Monthly Salary is Less Than Sh10,000:' Senator Murkomen Says No to Pay Cut

Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen has explained why most MPs are not willing to take a pay cut.

To free up funds for fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, President Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto slashed their salaries by 80 percent.

Other members of the Executive arm of the government including CSs, CASs, and PSs had their monthly pay trimmed by between 20 and 30 percent.

President Uhuru urged members of the other two arms of the government namely the Judiciary and the Legislature to also contribute to the Covid-19 kitty by taking pay cuts.

The Chief Justice and Speakers of the Senate and National Assembly have since agreed to have their salaries reduced by 30 percent but MPs have been reluctant to take pay cuts.

In an interview with Citizen TV on Tuesday night, Senator Murkomen said a majority of MPs are unable to contribute money towards fighting the pandemic because a huge share of their salaries go into paying back mortgages and loans.

Murkomen, who is also the leader of majority in the Senate, added that after deductions, most MPs pocket less than Sh10,000, including himself.

“Many members of Parliament, when they join parliament, commit all their salaries to mortgages and loans and so whatever they take home at the moment is less than Sh10,000 for most of them; some don’t even get anything. Many of you never understand," said Murkomen. 

"I had a discussion with the Parliamentary Service Commission and I want to disclose this publicly. My salary is less than Sh10,000 so I told myself that it would not be beneficial for me to contribute Sh5,000 or so,” he added.

“I'll give my personal donation from my other incomes like farming, which will be better than say a 30 percent deduction from my 10k."