Former Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama has criticised MPs for allegedly increasing their house allowance.
Muthama has termed the alleged move as "greed" meant to milk the country’s public coffers.
In a phone interview on Tuesday, Muthama said MPs have no justification to increase their pay, noting that they already enjoy hefty perks.
“I don’t support it and it is likely to have a bad effect on the country’s economy and development agenda,” he said.
Muthama observed that Kenyans are facing tough times and MPs should not have increased or think of increasing their allowances.
Muthama warned that the country could soon plunge into an economic crisis if MPs are allowed to decide on what to have in their pay slips.
"We are already struggling with high public debt and Kenyans are going to be forced to pay more taxes to accommodate MPs hefty pay,” he added.
Muthama slammed the National Treasury and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) for allegedly failing to stop the MPs push for more allowances.
The MPs push for increased house allowance has elicited debate with majority Kenyans against it.
On Monday, the Central Organization of Trade Union (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli backed the MP’s pay increase.
Atwoli claimed that MPs deserve more allowances because Kenyans keep asking for handouts from them.
The National Treasury and SRC have insisted that the country lacks funds to support more MPs salary increment as requested by parliament.
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