Kenya MPs Seek Sh11.7 Billion for Free Luxury Cars and Send-Off Packages for Their Aides

Kenyan Members of Parliament have petitioned the Treasury to set aside an additional Sh11.7 billion for free cars among other expenditures. 

As per Business Daily, Parliament’s Budget and Appropriations Committee is seeking Sh4.2 billion car grant for MPs who will be elected in the forthcoming elections, a Sh500 million top-up on their current subsidized mortgage of Sh20 million each, and Sh373 million for medical bills for MPs who will unsuccessfully defend their seats in the August 9th elections.

The MPs also want their aides including personal assistants, drivers, and office secretaries allocated a Sh6.67 billion send-off package.

“The Parliamentary Service Commission submitted to the Budget and Appropriation Committee expenditure requirements amounting to Sh65.71 billion. This translates to a Sh27.23 billion deviation from the resource ceiling of Sh38.476 billion presented by the National Treasury,” committee chairperson Kanini Kega says in a report as quoted by Business Daily.

He adds: “The committee observed that the additional requests include one-off expenditures amounting to Sh11.7 billion which are unavoidable under the current circumstances given the lapsing of the 12th Parliament.”

MPs who serve for more than two consecutive terms are entitled to a Sh125,000 monthly pension for the rest of their lives while those who only serve a single term get three times their monthly pension payment with a 15 percent interest.