(Nerima Wako-Ojiwa is a political analyst and the Executive Director of Siasa Place)
We have some bad leaders representing us and it is about time we recognise it as Kenyans.
We keep hoping and thinking that they will change from their foolish ways; that somehow they deeply care for us but it never happens. It’s a bitter pill to swallow.
Just like a terrible spouse who is an enemy of progress, the first step is accepting that our Members of Parliament do not care about us.
They are among the best paid in the world and they still feel that it is not enough. Yet again, they are whining about insurance and increasing the cover to second families, housing allowances, as well as fuelled cars despite having mileage allowances and a car grant.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has pleaded with them to focus on development but his plea has seemingly fallen on deaf ears.
This is completely insensitive. Most people cannot afford to pay NHIF’s Sh500 every month due to the high cost of living.
But someone with a hefty salary is asking taxpayers to pay for their second families’ insurance. MP’s already have a fuel mileage and many other perks at a time many Kenyans are struggling to make ends meet especially with the ongoing matatu crackdown.
Some have had to walk to get to work while those who are using PSVs are forced to pay as high as Sh200 just to get to the CBD, yet their income remains the same.
Yet, our MP’s are discussing housing allowance, when they should be focusing on Uhuru’s Big Four agenda with the aim of providing better and affordable housing to Kenyans by 2022.
Aren’t there thousands of Kenyans living in deplorable housing conditions just within Nairobi?
The obsession for more salaries was high that it happened in the middle of two-thirds gender rule making it look like representation is not a priority for now.
In the East African region, Kenya is trailing behind Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania meaning we are failing at representation.
But all that matters now to our MPs who are our spokespersons in Parliament is the push for more salaries.
As the cost of living soars, Kenyans will only continue to feel disgruntled, and this should be a concern for MPs because it becomes very difficult to lead hungry and angry people - it is actually impossible.
#hivisasaoriginal