The ‘Digital’ tenure has
already begun! The cabinet is already in place and working on delivering Jubilee’s
pre-election pledges to Kenya. The country is highly expectant and optimistic
of the free laptops for primary school pupils and the five modern football
stadiums across the country.
However, the 11th
Parliament has been fast off the blocks in delivering the post-election goodies
to the Kenyan voter, albeit on the wrong side! They are breathing fire and
threatening apocalyptic consequences to whoever threatens to derail their bids
of slashing away the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC); the body that
they have blamed for their reduced paycheck. The Sarah Serem-led Salaries and
Remuneration Commission (SRC) has under heavy political gunfire as Nithi
legislator, Mithika Linturi ahs not once threatened to sponsor a bill to the
Parliament. His cry is that the Serem-led team should be disbanded for flouting
constitutional provisions in revising the Mps’ paycheck at the end of the
month. And in perhaps what defines the unity of our Cord and Jubilee
parliamentarians, Mithika has received unwavering support from both fronts of
the house. The 11th house that had proved to be irreconcilable in
the formation of teams to major committees of the house suddenly disappeared
into the political clout. This rivalry died and these legislators have come
together to slay this white elephant that Serem’s team had suddenly become to
them. It is a move that has drawn the ire of the entire nation.
The last nail on its coffin
was perhaps the pig demonstration along Parliament Road. The innocent sow and
his family found themselves in the middle of a nasty physical confrontation
between the law enforcers and outraged Kenyan demonstrators. The activists were
clobbered, pepper water sprayed on them, teargas canisters exploded at their
feet as and the innocent animals taken to a safer home within Nairobi. But
going by the outrage that Kenyans have poured in the social media, the fight is
on and the honorable greed is certain of facing sterner tests, both in the
streets and on social media. Just as the Arab revolution that slayed Mubarak,
Gaddafi and Ben Ali, the Kenyan revolution might too be retweeted and posted on
face book walls. It is a battle that has all the makings of a long and grueling
fight, pitting the Mps on one side against an angry Kenyan public, civil
society groups, the media et al on the other.
The only legislator who has
openly opposed this greedy move is Cherangany Mp and marathon world-beater, Wesley
Korir. The rest have been mum albeit to evade public ire. Others like Kiambu legislator,
Jude Njomo have threatened to quit their posts over the pay issue. But we are
waiting to see if they can make good their threat. However, the consolation
that hungry and angry Kenyans have is in the president, His Excellency Uhuru
Kenyatta, who has opposed the Mps greed and told them to deliver, before
seeking to fatten their wallets.
Take away the hoopla, the
ire and anger that the Mps have caused across the country. Let us examine the
issue soberly. Our Mps are unrealistic, insensitive and all words that describe
their big disconnect from the people whose interests they apparently represent.
The economy is still struggling, the legislators’ number has increased from 224
in the 10th House to the current 340 Mps, the country is grappling
with the ticking time-bomb that is unemployment among the youth, Kenyans are
living on less than a dollar a day, our police force is in dire need of
attention and insecurity is a key national concern, university graduates are
decrying the lack of jobs and the country is fighting on all fronts to march
towards the Millennium 2030 Goals.
It is sad and unfortunate that our Mps may be at pains to
accept the new Kenya, where salaries in the public service are controlled by
the SRC, but it is the new constitution at work. These are some of the ‘hard truths’
and ‘bitter pains’ that we unanimously voted in and promulgated at Uhuru Park
on 27 August 2010. Our Mps, even after seeing their salaries and perks greatly
reduced by the SRC are still among the world’s highest paid legislators, even
more than their British, American and French counterparts. The perplexing irony
in this awkward reality is that the above are all first-world countries where
the economy is mega stable yet ours is still on its knees, struggling for
stability. One might be forgiven for thinking that Kenyans pay taxes and
struggle to grow our economy just to pay our Mps. The Kenyan Mp has been a
lucrative job and career path that does nots call for so much academic
qualifications.
In Kenya, being a member of
the August House has for long been a moneyed career, whereby people seek it
under the guise of working for the ordinary mlala hoi. A fact that
has best been exemplified by this Linturi-led onslaught, disguised as a move to
disband a law-defiant commission. Our legislators should tone down on their
undesirable desire for more money from the public coffers, and instead come
down to earth and the bitter Kenya, whereby citizens are gnashing their teeth
and cursing as the cost of living shoots through the roof, with every dawn. They
should show this undeterred determination and commitment in formulating
policies and creating an enabling legal environment upon which the economy will
tremendously grow, as investors, both local and international pump more money
into our economy.
Meanwhile, the Truth Justice
and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) has handed its report to President Uhuru
Kenyatta. Just as expected, influential Kenyans and politicians have been
adversely mentioned and the correct action recommended. As a nation, we are
eager to see whether the Bethwel Kipalng’at-led to gather dust in the shelves.
