National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi and his Senate
counterpart Ken Lusaka have announced that they will be taking voluntary 30%
pay cut for the next three months, in a bid to join hands in the fight against coronavirus pandemic.
Addressing reporters at the parliament buildings, senate
speaker Ken Lusaka said they are responsible citizens ready to effect the move
in fighting COVID-19.
“Based on the fact this country has history on such endeavors,
it is not easy to rule out but we are responsible citizens. We will effect our
voluntary pay cut as my colleague Muturi has directed,” said Mr. Lusaka.
Speaker Muturi said their 30% pay
cut will be directed in fight against COVID-19, based on measures that the
national treasury will come up with.
“On voluntary pay cut, the treasury will come up with a
mechanism on how to channel the funds in the fight against COVID 19,” said
Speaker Muturi.
This comes after President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive to the
National Treasury to effect pay cut to respective state officers.
The President directed 80% pay cut to his salary and the
Deputy President William Ruto’s salary, with the cabinet secretaries, Principal
Secretaries receiving 30% off their pay.
Special sittings
Following this directives, the national assembly and the
senate have been left with the mandate to implement them.
House speaker Justin Muturi said this will not be a hard
task for them, adding that they will be arranging for special sittings to
deliberate on the bills set by the national treasury.
To maintain social distance in the house, Muturi said the
house technical team is working on mechanisms that will see over 300 members of
parliament observe this rule, as they deliberate on these directives.
“The directives according to the president should be
effective April 1, that is not a challenge for us. We are ready, just waiting
for the treasury to present the bills for implementation,” said Speaker Muturi.
Speaker Lusaka said that the senate will resume on special
sittings next week, which will lead to subsequent sittings every week.
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