Nairobi — Three Cabinet ministers yesterday revealed how they intervened to ensure a deal meant to give MPs a send-off pay package was not debated in Parliament.

Dr Mukhisa Kituyi, Mr Raphael Tuju and Mr Suleiman Shakombo said they were part of a team that stepped in at the eleventh hour to ensure debate on the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill was shelved.

Dr Kituyi, the Trade and Industry minister, said consultations on some of the Acts of Parliament which were included in the Bill had not taken place, necessitating the intervention.

He futher said there was fear of public backlash on the planned golden handshake.

"I was part of the team that worked towards the removal of the (Statute Law) Amendment Bill on the floor of the House yesterday (Thursday). I think it is wrong for us as MPs to short-change the Kenyan taxpayers to give us more funds especially after increasing our emoluments," he said.

Speaking at Narc Kenya headquarters in Nairobi, Dr Kituyi, Mr Tuju and Mr Shakombo described the proposed severance and gratuity allowances an unwarranted burden to the taxpayer and asked MPs to drop the idea.

Voiced concern

As they voiced their concern, Kabete MP Paul Muite also accused ministers and their assistants of illegally earning responsibility perks.

Dr Kituyi said the handshake move was selfish and was likely to generate condemnation from the public towards members of the Ninth Parliament who had, over the time, hiked their pay.

"It is selfish and outrageous for us to get severance and gratuity allowance given that this is the Parliament which has benefited most from salary increases," said Dr Kituyi who serves as the Narc-K secretary-general. Mr Tuju is the interim chairman while Mr Shakombo is the vice-chairman.

On his part, Mr Shakombo, the National Heritage minister, questioned the timing of the amendment and argued that the handshake was likely to be perceived as a way of raising campaign money for the sitting MPs.

The proposal by members to award themselves Sh1.4 billion at the end of their term yesterday drew sharp criticism from leaders and groups.

The Anglican Church, through Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi, described the move as selfish.

Create a wedge

He added that if the proposal was not shelved, it may create a wedge between the MPs and their electorate, especially this time ahead of the elections.

The Presbyterian Church of East Africa secretary-general, the Rev Samuel Muriguh, said the move should be rejected.

"Let Parliament allow an independent body, which is credible, to look into the matter. Otherwise you cannot employ yourself and at the same time decide for yourself how much you should earn," the Rev Muriguh said.

He lamented that the Ninth Parliament had become dictatorial and hard to deal with.

"It is easier to deal with an individual dictator than a group of dictators like parliamentarians. So we are feeling frustrated as a church when we hear the hefty pensions the MPs are awarding themselves," the Rev Muriguh said.

A group calling itself African Council of Religions Leaders described the proposed package as immoral and called on the MPs to reject the plan.

"This new move is highly undesirable and bound to cast serious aspersions on the character and motives of the sitting MPs. It is also bound to set an extremely dangerous precedent," they said in a statement signed by their secretary-general, Dr Mustafa Y. Ali.

Social Reform Centre, a lobby group, said the MPs had perfected the art of robbing the people and called Kenyans to oppose their demands.

The proposal to award themselves the handsome salary was brought by Finance minister Amos Kimunya.

It is set to give a Sh5.9 million send-off to each of the 222 MPs, with Vice-President Moody Awori, the Speaker, Cabinet ministers and assistant ministers getting more.

However, the figure could rise to as much as Sh3 billion because some MPs play multiple roles in Parliament that would see them benefit from different aspects of the plan.

For example, MPs who are also members of the Parliamentary Service Commission would be entitled to the Sh5.9 million plus extra money for the additional duty.

Gave notice

Mr Kimunya gave notice to introduce an amendment to the National Assembly Remuneration Act during the committee stage in Parliament where MPs will be expected to vote for the new package.

The amendments are supposed to be included in the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill that also seeks to make minor changes to other laws.

However, the plan appeared to falter on Thursday when the Government side failed to initiate debate on the Bill.