Ssekandi Defends MPs’ Pay Rise

THE Speaker of Parliament, Edward Ssekandi, has defended the law giving Members of Parliament power to determine their own emoluments and the recent pay rise, saying it makes the institution of Parliament independent, reports Milton Olupot.Ssekandi yesterday told a delegation of the Kenya Parliamentary Commission that the issue of emoluments of MPs was not a creation of Parliament but the Constituent Assembly that made the law. The six-man delegation led by Peter Oloo Aringo, MP Alego Usonga, is in Uganda to study the set-up of the Parliamentary Commission here and find ways to strengthen their newly-constituted commission.“We got the idea from you and we set up a parliamentary commission. So we want to learn how you manage the Parliament, how you relate with the Executive and how you handle sensitive matters and finances,” Aringo said.The Speaker stressed the importance of the independence of Parliament, “There is need for financial autonomy. We also took away power to dissolve Parliament by the President. This gives us confidence in our work,” he said.Ssekandi said MPs were cautious when they are deciding their emoluments because they are the representatives of the people who should be sensitive. He said this is good for the country, because it makes Parliament not to work under threat.The Speaker also said MPs have so many demands. He told his guests that about 50% of MPs who were in the 6th Parliament did not return to Parliament because they could not match the demands of the electorate. Deputy Speaker Rebecca Kadaga also attended the meeting.Ends