Kenyan Lawmakers Accept Pay Cut, Luxury Car Allowance

VOA News
12 June 2013 (10:37AM)

Following a public outcry, Kenyan lawmakers have agreed to lower their salaries but will still get a bonus to buy a luxury car.

Kenya's Salaries and Remuneration Commission says that after negotiations, members of parliament have agreed to accept salaries of about $75,000 per year.

That's a steep cut from the $120,000 that parliament members earned last year.

However, the commission says the current legislators will also receive a one-time $58,000 payment to purchase a car.

Kenyan lawmakers are among the highest paid in the world, and their salaries have sparked anger and protests among poor Kenyans and activists for years.

More than 100 demonstrators protested outside parliament Tuesday, with some tossing fake money at the main gate to symbolize greed.

The salary commission ordered a cut in parliament's pay earlier this year, but lawmakers refused to accept the decision and voted to restore their salaries.

Newly elected President Uhuru Kenyatta has expressed concern that the cost of public wages is too high. Kenya currently spends about 12 percent of its gross domestic product on government workers' salaries.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.