Post by Ed on May 2, 2006 5:12:52 GMT 3
MPs' greed, callousness
By Edward Muiru
April 27, 2006
Kenya's members of parliament reached a new level of greed, disregard for the public, and callousness when they forced the government – and the people it represents – to increase their car mileage benefits and backdate it, at an initial cost of Ksh 198 million (nearly US $3 million).
They blackmailed the people by refusing to sign supplemental government budget until their demands were met. Their jostling has been going on for a week now until this Wednesday when the "deal" was signed.
Were it not for the fact that Kenyan legislators are amongst the most remunerated people worldwide, including legislators from developed countries, in both salary and benefits; and were it not for the fact that sixty percent of the country's population live under the United Nations poverty line of less than US $1.00 a day, their recent callous behavior could have been palatable.
Were it that the MPs attend parliamentary sessions as they should, initiate development projects in their constituencies, and debate and pass the necessary legislation, their current gluttonous behavior may have been looked at differently.
Was Kenya one of the most advanced countries in the world, that it could afford extravagance by such greedy, unthinking and unconscientious legislators, the action may even have passed unnoticed.
But this action by the legislators has shown total disdain and disregard for the Kenyan public that elected them. It has shown a completely different level of arrogance, recklessness and no compunction for the suffering majority in a weak economy.
It has shown that these leaders are totally unsuitable for the titles, positions and responsibilities. It clearly indicated that they need to vacate parliament soonest possible.
At US $10,000 a month, or US $120,000 a year in salary and benefits, the MPs are already some of the most highly remunerated individuals worldwide. And all this is in a backdrop of less than US $500 per capita national income, and a big range of problems and challenges confronting the country across sectors.
Of the 25 bills that were supposed to be debated and passed in the last parliamentary session (the MPs just reconvened less than a month ago), only six were deliberated and passed. The rest of the bills that were meant to advance the economy and society were not debated due to the MPs lethargy including missing parliamentary sessions, and missing the proceedings necessary for the bills to be debated and passed.
Yet, upon commencement of the new session, and even after losing some of their members to an air crash, and the country declaring "a national day of prayers",
these purveyors and practitioners of greed and a representation of all that can be bad for an individual, society, and group used these low points in the country to further enrich themselves out of the public purse.
This recent self-award, driven by manipulation of the public is totally unconscionable. They need to all be thrown out of parliament.
No amount of diversionary tactics like barring a radio announcer and his news organization, who was expression this rage, from the parliamentary precincts and covering parliamentary proceedings will suffice.
The integrity of parliament, which they gave as a reason for this action is in tatters because of their own actions. They should not, and must not deflect attention from public outrage over their large remuneration, ostentatious lifestyle, yet no work to be shown for it, by attacking members of the media.
This is intimidation of the press, a habit the government, and the country's leaders are now perfecting. The content of the words the announcer used are not as important as the fact he was crystallizing the general belief in and outside the country that the MPs are just a "gluttonous, lazy bunch."
For any meaningful growth and development to take place in the country, at least 60% of the MPs and 70-80% of the current civic leaders have to go. They represent the old habits, are merely old wine in new wineskins and all belong to conniving cartels that are keeping the country down with criminal activities ranging from corruption, abuse of office and involvement directly and indirectly in illegal drug trade among others.
The country wants and needs a new crop of leaders. And they should be in place after next year's national elections. Kenyans should begin preparing and continue preparing for parliamentary politics, civic leadership, and a new crop of leadership.
Four decades has been long enough for these leaders and their cronies. It is time for them to go. All of them.
By Edward Muiru
April 27, 2006
Kenya's members of parliament reached a new level of greed, disregard for the public, and callousness when they forced the government – and the people it represents – to increase their car mileage benefits and backdate it, at an initial cost of Ksh 198 million (nearly US $3 million).
They blackmailed the people by refusing to sign supplemental government budget until their demands were met. Their jostling has been going on for a week now until this Wednesday when the "deal" was signed.
Were it not for the fact that Kenyan legislators are amongst the most remunerated people worldwide, including legislators from developed countries, in both salary and benefits; and were it not for the fact that sixty percent of the country's population live under the United Nations poverty line of less than US $1.00 a day, their recent callous behavior could have been palatable.
Were it that the MPs attend parliamentary sessions as they should, initiate development projects in their constituencies, and debate and pass the necessary legislation, their current gluttonous behavior may have been looked at differently.
Was Kenya one of the most advanced countries in the world, that it could afford extravagance by such greedy, unthinking and unconscientious legislators, the action may even have passed unnoticed.
But this action by the legislators has shown total disdain and disregard for the Kenyan public that elected them. It has shown a completely different level of arrogance, recklessness and no compunction for the suffering majority in a weak economy.
It has shown that these leaders are totally unsuitable for the titles, positions and responsibilities. It clearly indicated that they need to vacate parliament soonest possible.
At US $10,000 a month, or US $120,000 a year in salary and benefits, the MPs are already some of the most highly remunerated individuals worldwide. And all this is in a backdrop of less than US $500 per capita national income, and a big range of problems and challenges confronting the country across sectors.
Of the 25 bills that were supposed to be debated and passed in the last parliamentary session (the MPs just reconvened less than a month ago), only six were deliberated and passed. The rest of the bills that were meant to advance the economy and society were not debated due to the MPs lethargy including missing parliamentary sessions, and missing the proceedings necessary for the bills to be debated and passed.
Yet, upon commencement of the new session, and even after losing some of their members to an air crash, and the country declaring "a national day of prayers",
these purveyors and practitioners of greed and a representation of all that can be bad for an individual, society, and group used these low points in the country to further enrich themselves out of the public purse.
This recent self-award, driven by manipulation of the public is totally unconscionable. They need to all be thrown out of parliament.
No amount of diversionary tactics like barring a radio announcer and his news organization, who was expression this rage, from the parliamentary precincts and covering parliamentary proceedings will suffice.
The integrity of parliament, which they gave as a reason for this action is in tatters because of their own actions. They should not, and must not deflect attention from public outrage over their large remuneration, ostentatious lifestyle, yet no work to be shown for it, by attacking members of the media.
This is intimidation of the press, a habit the government, and the country's leaders are now perfecting. The content of the words the announcer used are not as important as the fact he was crystallizing the general belief in and outside the country that the MPs are just a "gluttonous, lazy bunch."
For any meaningful growth and development to take place in the country, at least 60% of the MPs and 70-80% of the current civic leaders have to go. They represent the old habits, are merely old wine in new wineskins and all belong to conniving cartels that are keeping the country down with criminal activities ranging from corruption, abuse of office and involvement directly and indirectly in illegal drug trade among others.
The country wants and needs a new crop of leaders. And they should be in place after next year's national elections. Kenyans should begin preparing and continue preparing for parliamentary politics, civic leadership, and a new crop of leadership.
Four decades has been long enough for these leaders and their cronies. It is time for them to go. All of them.