A former legislator has urged the government to recognise former members of parliament by increasing their monthly gratuity as a means to cater for their plight.
Speaking to our reporter, Former Kinangop MP Susan Wanjiru said that it was disheartening that many of the former MPs who made reputable contributions in the country were still living in poverty, and that they have no honour, income or basic human needs.
“The government should recognise former MPs and their families for the role they played of legislation during their tenure. Majority of my colleagues who are alive are living as paupers yet they made positive contributions in the country,” said Wanjiru.
“The constitution will be useless if the government continues to neglect those who dedicated their lives towards ‘beautiful’ legislations developing the country,” added Wanjiru.
The former lawmaker called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to address the issue and leave a legacy of having extended an hand to support the selfless lawmakers.
Wanjiru termed the recent showdown in parliament during the debating of the controversial security laws as archaic, and a show of disrespect to parliament.
“I strongly condemn the acts of hooliganism displayed by honourable MPs,” she said.
She urged parliamentarians to emulate the Inter-Parliamentary party group (IPPG) technique embraced by parliamentarians during the KANU regime, which helped solve controversies in law making process.
The MP who served Kinangop on a Ford Asili ticket between 1992-1997, uged the Speaker of the National assembly Justin Muturi to consider convening a ‘Kamkunji’ when parliament resumes to reconcile the lawmakers who fought each other.
“The MPs should be tolerant to one another so as to enact sound laws that will benefit Kenyans,” she noted.