This archive report was first published on 25 July 2019.
On July 25, 2019, a heated debate erupted between the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and parliament over a housing allowance awarded to MPs.
The SRC, under the leadership of Lyn Mengich, declared the payment illegal and moved to court, sparking a retaliatory move by parliament to slash the SRC's budget by millions.
Parliament's actions were seen as an attempt to intimidate Mengich and limit the SRC's operations, but she remained steadfast in her stance, refusing to be browbeaten by the MPs' greed.
When asked about the proposed 'night allowance' by MPs, Mengich explained the constitutional grounding of the SRC and its mandate, leaving a lasting impression of a woman who would go about executing her duty without fear or favor.
Contrasting Mengich's dignified interview with the MPs' hysteria, it became clear that the SRC was not backing down in the face of parliament's threats.
MPs argued that they needed more money to help their constituents, but Mengich pointed out that their duties include legislating, representation, and oversight, not dishing out handouts.
She also highlighted the unsustainable wage bill and the need for MPs to work towards reducing it, rather than relying on handouts.
When MPs went personal, accusing Mengich of waging a vendetta against them, she remained calm and focused on the constitutional issues at hand.
Finally, MPs claimed to be poor, citing deductions that left them with peanuts, but Mengich's response was that if they were so offended by their pay, they should resign and let Kenyans see the folly of not paying them what they want.
As a Nairobi-based political commentator, Tee Ngugi noted that the dispute between the SRC and parliament highlights the need for women and men of conscience to stop the plunder of public funds.
