Taxpayers are poised to give out more and more money in terms of cash to take care of the expensive lives of MPs in fresh demands.
Despite receiving a State-backed mortgage of up to Sh20 million, MPs now want to live in hotels at the expense of taxpayers.
The lawmakers are demanding an accommodation allowance that will allow them sleep, wine and dine in five-star hotels when in the city ‘for legislative business’.
Although the figure for the new allowance was not immediately available, in justifying their demands, the committee benchmarked in New Zealand, where lawmakers are paid up to Sh400,000 every time they are in town, suggesting the kind of perks they are eyeing.
Since Parliament sits for three days a week (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday), with some committee meetings scheduled for Mondays — some members sit in two committees — it means that lawmakers will literally be living in hotels.
The cost implications of the new allowance would be enormous considering there are 416 MPs — National Assembly (349) and the Senate (67).
Other privileges they enjoy is a generous medical cover, tax-free pension and a host of other allowances that allow them to carry home more than Sh1 million every month.
Other demands are the employment of a public health specialist in Parliament to ensure MPs live in healthy environment, the implementation of a lactating mothers’ policy, and the establishment of a committee to ensure all areas of Parliament are clean and well-maintained.
Members are also demanding to know the status of procurement of new uniforms for catering staff, the status of negotiations with Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) on their mileage allowances and progress on the multi-storey office block for MPs, currently under construction.