MPs Seek Millions for Enhanced Benefits
In addition to year-round access to private member clubs of their choosing and more lavish meals, legislators have developed new proposals to increase the taxpayer-funded indulgences they currently enjoy.
The legislators also want the menus in the canteen at Parliament Buildings to be changed monthly “to give members options.”
In addition, they want an exclusive wellness center that is always staffed by a registered nurse and is completely equipped.
In the proposals submitted by the Members’ Services and Facilities Committee on Wednesday, the MPs also request health coverage for all retired MPs, who they claim are ailing after their terms.
Stephen Wachira (Laikipia West, UDA), chairman of the committee, submitted his report following a trip to the House of Commons, the lower house of the British Parliament.
MPs who traveled to the United Kingdom included delegation chief Feisal Bader (Msambweni), Paul Abuor (Rongo), Ruth Odinga (Kisumu), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), and Brighton Yegon (Konoin).
According to the report, the purpose of the visit was for the committee to meet with their British counterparts in charge of member services and facilities to become acquainted with their mandate and operations.
In their report, the legislators argued for MPs’ access to private member clubs throughout the country “to enable MPs to access health club and recreational facilities while in or out of Nairobi City.” This is in addition to the membership already in place.
A portion of the report states, “The Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) negotiates with private member clubs throughout the country and facilitates payments of membership fees to members’ preferred clubs so that members can access health club and recreational facilities while they are away or within Nairobi city.”
During their tour, the committee observed that the House of Commons has a gym with professional personnel to assist MPs with training and workouts.
To create a healthy legislature, they have also contracted gyms across the nation to offer discounted rates to members of Congress and their personnel at the constituency level.
Some of the private clubs that the committee wants their employees to enroll MPs in charge exorbitant entry and subscription fees, according to a sample of their membership fees.
For instance, the complete membership fee at Nairobi Club is approximately 5h465,000, with an annual subscription fee of Sh31,500. Consequently, if the PSC were to pay for 416 MPs annually at this club or any other of the same caliber, it would pay Sh206,544,000.
This equates to Sh826,170,000 for the remaining four years of the thirteenth legislature. If they subscribe all of the members of parliament to organizations across the nation, the cost will reach billions of shillings.
Corporate membership at Limuru Country Club, which parliament is likely to agree on if it decides to implement the report’s recommendations, costs Sh304,000, and the development levy fee is Sh48,000. In addition, there is a Sh34,000 annual subscription fee.
At United Kenya Club, country members pay an entry fee of Sh80,000, a subscription of Sh500, and a development levy of Sh20,000.
There are various membership categories at Eldoret Club, but complete members who enjoy all rights and privileges pay Sh50,000 and all new members pay Sh200,000 as a development levy.
In addition, there is a Sh10,000 account deposit. The committee also desires that PSC-contracted gyms in cities across the nation provide MPs with discounted access to gym services while they are away from the Parliamentary grounds.
MPs have access to a state-of-the-art gym with trainers at Continental House, where their offices are located. In addition, the committee wants a well-equipped wellness center to be established within the new Bunge structures, as well as a professional nurse who will offer services and advice to members of Congress.
During its visit, the committee discovered that the British parliament offers health and wellness services to its members.
The health and wellness department offers its members medical support and services. The services include general examinations, vaccinations, and overseas travel advice, as well as minor treatment.
The committee noted in its report that there is a general practitioner on-site in the United Kingdom who offers comprehensive triage services to members of parliament and their staff.
According to the committee’s report, the majority of their colleagues’ health deteriorates upon departing the legislature, necessitating the creation of a health insurance plan for retired members of parliament.
Currently, the PSC does not provide medical coverage to former members of Congress; instead, they receive a pension based on the number of terms served.
The medical coverage however expires upon the expiration of the term of office for those who do not return. The lawmakers also want the catering services in Parliament to enhance their menu and offer a wider variety of food to avoid what they call the monotony of the current offerings.
They desire a monthly menu rotation and a buffet menu with a variety of options for members. The MPs noted that in the United Kingdom, the administration committee, which is equivalent to the member’s services and facilities in Kenya, meets with the catering department and devises a monthly rotating menu to provide members with options.
According to the report, the chairperson of the committee will also serve as a member of the Parliamentary Service Commission on members’ welfare, where he or she will convey MPs’ concerns to their employer.
In addition, the committee now desires an office with an attached officer from the constituency liaison office’s secretariat. According to the report, the office will be responsible for receiving the opinions of members verbally, via questionnaires, letters, and emails.
The committee contends that the creation of the office will provide it with a mechanism for receiving feedback from its members, allowing it to fulfill its mandate in full.
The committee also wants the constituency liaison office to conduct regular digital surveys or phone calls with constituency managers to identify the challenges encountered by MPs in the constituency and bring them to the attention of the management.
If enacted, department leaders providing services to members of Congress will be required to attend meetings of the members’ services and facilities committee.
Five members of the committee traveled to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom Parliament from May 6 to 13, 2023 for a study mission.
By the Standing Orders, the Members’ Services and Facilities Committee is tasked with providing facilities and services to facilitate the efficient operation of parliament, as well as providing a forum for MPs to express their welfare concerns to their employer.
In carrying out its mandate, it considers car park facilities, ICT services, office space allocated to members, catering and hospitality services, health club services and facilities, and travel assistance for members to Nairobi and other constituencies and counties.
The committee conferred with the administration committee of the House of Commons and the members’ services team while in the United Kingdom.
In addition, the delegation met with the Human Resources services team of the House of Commons and the ICT department of the UK Parliament.
In addition to attending the Prime Minister’s question time in the House of Commons chambers, the Kenyan delegation was given a guided tour of Westminster Palace, which houses the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
The committee convened its first meeting with the head of inter-parliamentary relations, Ms. Lynn Gardner, who provided a brief history of the British Parliament and a tour of the Westminster Palace.
The Kenyan delegation also met with Josie Lazenby, the chief of the Department of Wellbeing, and Tanya Harris, both of whom, according to the report, are trained nurses and work for the House of Commons.
The department conducts a routine check-up on all UK parliamentarians, including blood pressure, stress levels, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels.
In addition to providing MPs with vaccinations and overseas travel advice, the UK Department of Health also administers annual flu vaccines within parliament.
In addition, the Kenyan delegation was informed that the well-being department in the United Kingdom provides members who are ill with advice and guidance, as well as minor treatment services.
The committee also met with Charles Walker, who is also the chairman of the administration committee, which is in charge of hospitality and catering services for members of parliament in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Walker informed the Kenyan delegation that they meet every Monday when the House is in session and on notice when the House is not in session.
The Kenyan delegation also met with Lydia Smith and Lara Alexander Lloyd, who are members of the staff engagement team and tasked with gathering feedback from MPs and staff on services offered, as well as what should be improved or eliminated.
The team informed the Kenyan delegation that they routinely conduct road shows in various constituencies to offer assistance and network.
MPs Seek Millions for Enhanced Benefits
