Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) has completed its audit on Parliamentary Service Commission’s pay system.
EACC CEO Halakhe Waqo, while presenting the 50-page report to National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi on Friday, December 4, said the system was so week that they could not ascertain the exact amount lost.
“We have launched a probe into the graft in Parliament and will name all individuals involved. We will not spare anybody engaged in this practice,” Waqo said.
Some of the loopholes that EACC found were:
1. Monthly payment for ex MPs
EACC investigations found that there are several former MPs in the parliament’s payroll despite having been voted out.
Each of the 416 members of parliament, both the National Assembly and Senate, take home a minimum basic monthly salary of KSh 532,500 plus allowances push the total pay to about KSh 1.1 million.
2. Payment of allowances to absent MPs
MPs were also found to be demanding for sitting and other allowances even if they were absent. The members are said to be intimidating the PSC staff with sacking threats in order to have their way.
MPs get KSh 5,000 shillings as sitting allowance for committee and parliamentary sessions while those with additional responsibilities like committee chairs get at least KSh 10,000.
Members of the Parliamentary Service Commission are the highest paid as they take home KSh 40,000 per sitting.
3. Signing allowances for colleagues
If not through intimidation, some MPs were found to be signing in for their absent colleagues who later claim the allowances.
4. Fake mileage claims
The audit also confirmed earlier claims of abuse of mileage allowances. It is estimated that some MPs make up to KSh 600,000 a week without even setting foot in their constituencies. This amounts to about KSh 2.4 million every month.
The lawmakers are entitled to mileage claims pegged at KSh 109 per kilometre for up to 750 kilometres per week with additional travel distance compensated at the rate of KSh 76.30 per kilometre. On average, an MP makes un-taxed KSh 327,000 monthly in travel allowances.
5. Inflated tenders
The legislators are also said to be actively involved in getting a piece of the KSh 27 billion allocated to parliament in the 2015/2016 financial year through bidding for tenders which are often inflated.
Ironically, Muturi who is the chairman of the PSC said he was not surprised at all with EACC corruption audit report.
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