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| Millie Odhiambo Suba North MP |
The Finance Bill 2024 protests and public outroar have birthed a conversation on government expenditure and areas that the government can cut expenses to ensure the country lives within its means. Millie Odhiambo Suba North MP stated that she supports the reduction of MPs salaries to provide the government with more money to serve Kenyans. Photo: Parliament of Kenya/Millie Mabona. Source: Facebook Kenya’s young population have taken to social media to demand a conversation about salaries paid to members of the parliament as the government looks to cut its expenditure following Finance Bill 2024 protests. Milly Odhiambo supports salary reductions While engaging with her followers on Facebook, Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo Mabona said she has no problem with reducing MPs’ salaries and suggested that the excess funds could be better used to address the challenges faced by Kenyans. She was responding to one of the comments under her post which read “The Gen Z have proposed that you reduce your salary to KSh 120k” “I have said on national TV before that our salary be reduced to even 200k. The government should use that money to support issues like medical access, bereavement and food for poor” Millie Mabona responded. Kenyans demand reduction of MPs’ salaries Other Kenyans on platforms such as X have questioned why Kenyan MPs are among the best paid in the world yet Kenya is not among the richest countries. @_CHRISRIL said: “Mps with no clear academic records are earning more than our DOCTORS? Enough of it, #RutoMustResignNow, and salaries to be reconsidered as well as academic records and qualifications.” @Pekiro said: “MPs must be pushed to pass a bill to reduce their salaries by more than 50%. If this happen nobody would want to vie for any elective seat. That’s how we will save Kenya from economic mess. Let’s not be hypocrites.” @Zachary_Sonko said: “Reduce salaries for MPs and other government officials and close all the loopholes for corruption and Kenya will eventually become the Singapore of Africa.” What is the size of Kenya’s wage bill Many Kenyans particularly the Gen Z are opposed to increased taxation as they believe the government can cut costs on non-essential expenditures and reduce MPs salaries to reduce the national wagebill. Kenya’s constitutional requirements cap the national wagebill at 35% of the revenue ratio; however it currently stands at 47% according to John Monyoncho, SRC commissioner during the third wage bill conference held in April 2024. William Ruto’s government recognises that the national wagebill needs to be reduced and Kenyans are suggesting that MPs earning over 65 times the minimum wage in Kenya should take a paycut.
by Elijah Ntongai