Lawyer Willis Otieno has drawn attention to the persistent payment of parliamentary salaries in Kenya, even as key public sectors face financial shortfalls.
Speaking on social media, Otieno highlighted that hospitals, schools, and county governments often operate under severe budget constraints while MPs continue to receive their full salaries without delay.
Otieno referred to the situation as a "sacred cow," emphasizing the contrast between consistently paid parliamentary wages and the stalled or underfunded public services that directly affect citizens.
“Not even God delays their pay, let alone the Treasury,” he remarked, underlining the immunity of MPs’ remuneration from bureaucratic or fiscal delays.
Kenya has a history of debates over MP pay, particularly in light of growing national deficits and public complaints about service delivery.
Parliamentary salaries and allowances are among the highest in the East African region, with MPs entitled to multiple perks beyond their basic pay, including constituency development funds, vehicle loans, and housing allowances.
These benefits have often been cited as disproportionate compared to the resources allocated to counties and critical social services.
Civil society organizations and budget analysts have previously raised concerns that high legislative salaries contribute to public dissatisfaction, especially when healthcare facilities lack essential medicines, schools face infrastructure gaps, and development projects are delayed due to inadequate funding.
Otieno’s comments arrive amid ongoing discussions in Parliament and the media over fiscal prudence and the prioritization of public service funding.
While the Treasury ensures timely disbursement of MPs’ salaries, counties and ministries frequently cite delays in national allocations, affecting their ability to deliver on health, education, and infrastructure commitments.
Otieno’s statement reinforces the call for more transparent and equitable budgetary practices, raising questions about the sustainability of current parliamentary pay structures as Kenya continues to face growing fiscal pressures and public service demands.