Parliament wants the National Treasury to allocate it Sh14.6 billion to cater for MPs and senators’ foreign and domestic travel as well as pay for their allowances whenever they attend committee sittings.
The Sh14.6 billion includes Sh7.6 billion for domestic and foreign travel, out of which the Senate will get Sh1.7 billion and National Assembly Sh5.8 billion.
On the other hand, the rest will be paid as part of personal allowances for committee sittings with the Senate getting Sh1.1 billion and National Assembly Sh5.9 billion.
According to allowances structure approved by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission in a gazette notice dated July 2017, committees chairs are entitled to Sh15,000 per sitting, vice chairpersons Sh12,000 and ordinary members Sh8,000.
Interestingly, the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) wants Sh14 billion for travel and allowances yet it has only sought Sh3 billion for development expenditure.
Reads the report: “The estimates that the commission now presents to the House have taken cognisance of the need to facilitate Members of Parliament in achieving their constitutional mandate as well as promoting parliamentary democracy.”
The office of the Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi and that of his Senate counterpart Kenneth Lusaka are seeking Sh267.7 million for domestic and foreign travel with Lusaka’s office getting Sh129 million.
The office of the Clerk of the National Assembly Michael Silai and that of his Senate counterpart Jeremiah Nyegenye is seeking Sh444 million with Silai’s office getting Sh251.2 million. The two offices are also seeking Sh1.8 billion for personal allowances earned in various committees that are paid as part of salaries.
PSC secretariat, which is chaired by Muturi, is seeking Sh99.8 million for domestic travel and Sh94.9 million for foreign travel, while for printing and advertising expenses the commission wants Sh10.5 million.
Constituency offices for members require Sh6.1 billion, out of which Sh4 billion will be for wages and salaries for temporary staff, legal department (Sh105.1 million), Parliamentary budget office (Sh153.6 million), National Assembly Sergeant-at-Arms office (Sh148 million) and Senate Sergeant-at-Arms office (Sh89.5 million).
The funding requests come after PSC requested for Sh43.6 billion in the 2019/20 financial year. Out of the Sh43.6 billion, recurring expenditure stands at Sh40.5 billion, while development expenditure stands at Sh3 billion that will be used to cater for physical facilities and other infrastructure within Parliament.
In the estimates tabled in the National Assembly by Leader of Majority Aden Duale, Senate affairs programmes requires Sh7.6 billion, which is an increase by 14.3 per cent from last year due to increased activities, general administration, planning and support services that will take up Sh6.2 billion.
With respect to the Sh3 billion development expenditure, the commission intends to spend Sh50 million on refurbishment of non-residential buildings within the Senate, Sh1.5 billion for ongoing construction of a multi-storied office block, Sh1 billion for the purchase of police and security equipment as well as buying ICT networking equipment.
Compensation of employees will account Sh5.5 billion, use of goods and services will account for Sh7.2 billion while Sh536 million will be used for the purchase of vehicles and other transport equipment, among others.
Two weeks ago, MPs demanded that PSC facilitates those without homes with accommodation whenever they come to Nairobi to discharge their legislative duties.
The move comes at a time when president Uhuru has pushed for austerity measures across the board with deeper cuts on non-essential items such as travel and entertainment.