Former Members of Parliament have kicked off efforts to elevate their current pension to Sh100,000 pay monthly, as compensation for their service to the country during their tenure.
Appearing before the Committee on Finance and National Planning, they stressed on the need for a monthly living pension, arguing that many ex-MPs have died in poverty due to no income.
They were backing the Parliamentary Pensions (amendment) bill of 2019 which is being sponsored by Suba South lawmaker and House Minority Leader John Mbadi.
Led by Former Alego Usonga MP and Parliamentarians Association of Kenya (FOPAK) Secretary Otieno Mak'Onyango, they urged the house to intervene on the issue.
“Being an MP is one of the most privileged positions under the sun. Currently, a former MP is completely different from a retired judge among others,” he said.
Currently, MPs who served for two terms before 2010 are entitled to a pension ranging between Sh2,000 and 8,000, a plan that, however, excludes those who served after independence.
Due to the absense of the law at that time, their colleagues who served between 1963 and 1984 are not entitled to anything.
Mbadi's bill wants the law amended to accommodate MPs who served for a single term as well.