Odhiambo said the commission is not an office for collective bargaining but a constitutional commission created to independently set salaries/FILE
The statement comes after National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi revealed that the Parliamentary Service Commission was in talks with the SRC on the possibility of increasing MPs’ pay.
The group’s leader Morris Odhiambo said calls for salary adjustments go against the letter and the spirit of the Constitution and the expectations of Kenyans for leadership with integrity.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Odhiambo said the commission is not an office for collective bargaining but a constitutional commission created to independently set salaries.
“The demands they are making only one month after being elected and without even fully understanding their mandate, are unwarranted, undignified and unconstitutional,” Odhiambo said.
“If this continues, people going to negotiate with the Salary and Remuneration Commission then we will go to court to stop those negotiations.”
He said any kind of talks between any person and the commission will not only be unconstitutional but watering down its independence.
The aggrieved legislators complained that the pay is too low after it was slashed from Sh851,000 to Sh532,500 and threatened to disband the SRC and give its functions to another organ through a Motion on the floor of the House.
They accused SRC of setting a salary regime that would put them in a compromising position by making them miserable.
The group however wants the MPs to stop threatening the commission adding that it is protected by the Constitution calling for them to leave office if they are dissatisfied with the salaries.
The move by new legislators to have their salaries reviewed has received the backing of governors.
“What we are saying today to MPs, governors and all those who feel dissatisfied with their salaries is that go on and take us to a referendum on this issue and we the National Civil Society Congress will oppose you by convincing Kenyans to vote against your motion,” he challenged them.
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