Things were not as rosy as they are now in the past, especially in the first government under founding father Jomo Kenyatta.
Unlike now when top government officials like Cabinet Secretaries and Members of Parliament are earning hefty amounts in salary and allowances, things were different back then.
According to the first MP for Vihiga Joseph Otiende, who also doubled up as the nation's first Education Minister in Mzee Kenyatta's cabinet, they only earned 30 shillings as parliament attendance allowance.
In an interview with Standard Digital before his death last year, Otiende who was the only remaining member of Kenyatta's first cabinet revealed that they also did not enjoy other privileges like security from the state.
He reveals having his own workers whom he paid from his own pockets, adding that they catered for their own transport to Parliament and security.
"We were paid Sh30 as parliament attendance allowance. We even paid for our own transport from our homes to Parliament," he is quoted.
"I had my own bodyguards, workers and cooks. We were self-accounting during that time. To date, I have not been paid any benefits," he adds.
The 18-man cabinet also included the likes of Tom Mboya who was incharge of the Justice docket, Joseph Murumbi of Foreign Affairs and Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga who handled the Home Affairs Ministry.
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