The Katiba Institute has officially written to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) to ask for information about the employment terms of Members of Parliament and Senators.
In their statement dated March 30, the institute said they want clarity on several issues, especially regarding the salaries of Members of the National Assembly.
According to the institute, the request is made under Article 35 of the Constitution and the Access to Information Act, which allows any Kenyan to request and get information from public bodies.In their letter to the SRC, the Katiba Institute asked whether the commission had carried out proper labor market comparisons, as required by law, to come up with the current salaries for state officers.
They want to know whether there was any evidence or data used to justify the wages of MPs and Senators.
This kind of research is important to make sure that public funds are used wisely and that state officers are not overpaid compared to what others earn in similar roles elsewhere.
The Institute also wants to know whether the Parliamentary Service Commission has ever received any official proposals related to changes in MPs’ and Senators’ pay and allowances since 2011.
This is part of their effort to understand how these payments have been changing over time and whether the decisions were made in a transparent and lawful way.
One major issue the Katiba Institute raised is whether MPs and Senators are considered full-time or part-time workers. This affects what kind of benefits and salaries they should receive, yet the law remains unclear on this matter.
In addition to these questions, the Katiba Institute asked for actual copies of the employment contracts for MPs and Senators.
These contracts should show how long their service lasts, what salary they receive, and the kind of benefits and allowances they enjoy.
The goal is to make all this information public so that Kenyans can know exactly what their elected leaders are being paid for and whether it is justified.
The issue of parliamentary salaries has caused public anger for years, with Kenyans often complaining that MPs and Senators earn too much while many citizens struggle to make ends meet.
In 2024, plans to increase MPs’ salaries were met with strong criticism. Citizens argued that the timing was wrong, especially with the country facing tough economic times.
The situation became even worse when news came out that MPs would get a salary increase starting April 1, 2025. This raise includes a fixed monthly mileage allowance, which further adds to their benefits.
If the pay hike goes through, it will cost Kenyan taxpayers Ksh4.4 billion between April 1 and the next general election. This amount covers all 416 MPs in both the National Assembly and the Senate.
The SRC Secretary and CEO, Anne Gitau, confirmed in a letter to the PSC that the salary increase was approved at an SRC meeting held on March 20, 2025, following a formal request.
This news has again brought attention to the lack of openness in how lawmakers’ pay is decided.
The Katiba Institute hopes that by pushing for transparency, Kenyans will have a better understanding of how their money is being used and whether their representatives are being fairly or unfairly paid.
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