The Country’s Legislative leaders have said that they will take a 30 per cent pay cut to help the government in mitigating the effects of COVID-19, which has since seen the Country record 31 positive cases.
National Assembly and Senate speakers Justin Muturi and Kenneth Lusaka will both take a 30 per cent pay cut to aid the Country in the fight against Corona Virus which has since claimed over 19,000 lives globally.
National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi said that members of parliament will give their own address as to whether they will be taking salary cuts too or not.
Muturi noted that National Assembly chamber is designed to accommodate 350 persons and it is highly unlikely that they will practice the requisite 1-metre distance and that some members are scared of congregating.
Muturi further said that if there could be reason for urgent business to be transacted, the leaders will write to either speaker, by which we are obligated to recall the house.
“Parliament staff would advise on how to best deal with the situation, should it arise,” said Muturi in a press release Thursday, adding that Parliament has put measures in place to curb the spread of the pandemic, for instance, placing hand-washing faucets at specific places within the building, sanitizers and having guards record temperatures for any entrant.
Senate Speaker Lusaka while addressing the media, said that they have agreed that in the next three months they will take a 30 per cent pay cut to help improve the fight against corona virus.
This move comes after President Uhuru on Wednesday announced that he and his Deputy William Ruto will take an 80 per cent pay cut, Cabinet Secretaries, Chief Administrative Secretaries, 30 per cent and Principal Secretaries, 20 per cent.
“We hope that other arms of government will follow suit and have their salaries reviewed. The MPs have heard and know what Kenyans want,” said President Uhuru who challenged Members of Parliament to consider going the same route.
Kenya on Wednesday registered its first full recovery of a patient undergoing treatment for corona virus even as three more persons tested positive.
President Uhuru Kenyatta in this regard announced policy measures to combat the spread of the virus and cushion Kenyans against the resultant economic meltdown attributed to the global pandemic that has left over 19,000 dead.
By Alice Gworo
