Uhuru Declines to Sign Bill Awarding Former MPs Sh100,000 Monthly Pension

President Kenyatta has declined to sign into law a bill that would have seen former MPs receive a monthly pension of at least Sh100,000 each for life.

The Parliamentary Pensions (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which was sponsored by National Assembly Minority Leader John Mbadi, was approved by MPs last month.

The Bill sought to increase the monthly pension of nearly 400 MPs who retired between 1984 and 2001 increased to Sh125,000 from an average of Sh33,000 they are pocketing at the moment. 

Mbadi while defending the proposed piece of legislation said it was meant to cushion former MPs who he argued have been earning peanuts as a pension.

He dismissed claims that the bill would burden the taxpayer if passed, saying it would not cost Kenyans a lot of money since the clause requiring the payments to be backdated to 2010 was removed.

The bill received support from a majority of MPs, who said some of the former MPs are living in poverty.

Uhuru in rejecting the Bill stated that pension for MPs should be calculated based on the contributions they made during the time they were serving.

He further indicated that Parliament in passing the bill ignored the role of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), which recommends salaries and commissions for all State officers. 

Further, Uhuru raised concerns over the cost of implementing the bill, adding that there was also a risk of other public servants demanding higher pensions.

Two-thirds of MPs are required to vote in favor of the bill to overturn the President’s reservations.