SRC Chair Sara Serem. Her commission has been sued by MPs over a row in their pay and other allowances. [Photo/Nation]
Members of Parliament have moved to court over their reduced sitting allowances among other benefits.The members, through the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC), have gone to court over a Gazette notice that reduced their sitting allowances.The commission filed the petition before the high court, saying the Salaries and Remuneration Commission was overstepping its mandate in the process affecting operations of the House.“That SRC encroached on the constitutional mandate and responsibilities of the PSC, which is to ensure the efficient and effective functioning of Parliament and to perform other functions necessary for the well-being of the members and staff of Parliament,” read part of the petition.the notice, which was published on July 7 did away with the car grant and reduced the members’ sitting allowances as well as the mileage allowance.According to their lawyer George Miyare, the car grant was a facilitative allowance previously given to State officers serving in Parliament.Miyare further said it was the work of PSC to decide on how to pay the members' facilitation allowances whenever they travel on official duty outside their constituencies and parliament.The petition further terms the reduction of committee meetings as ‘trespassing’ on parliament’s independence, and its constitutional mandate as it affects their free operations.