Once is not common, in Kenya, parliamentarians have to return money to the state. Yesterday, the High Court of Justice asked the 416 elected representatives to reimburse ten million dollars. This amount corresponds to a housing allowance that they have received for more than two years. A financial support that they had voted in their own favor and caused a stir in the country.
Each parliamentarian will have one year to repay more than $ 24,000. A significant sum given the Kenyan standard of living, but much more accessible to elected officials.
Two years ago, they voted for the housing allowance to be added to their already comfortable salaries, which triggered a cry in civil society.
The Wages Commission brought the matter to court. This independent institution responsible for setting salaries for civil servants is the bête noire for many Kenyan elected officials.
She ended up winning in the High Court. Thande Kuria, his lawyer, said that no official can determine his own salary. “This compensation is unconstitutional, invalid,” he said.
Elected officials complained that their remuneration had not been increased since 2013 and that their colleagues from previous terms were paid better. Arguments that have upset a large number of NGOs.
According to an IMF study, Kenyan parliamentarians are actually the second highest paid in the world after Nigerians. Their monthly salary is around 7,000 dollars, but can exceed 13,000 thanks to several benefits and expenses. They have access to loans of tens of thousands of dollars at very low rates, generous health insurance, as well as damages of all kinds for their participation in the sessions and committees of which they are members.
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