MPs closed ranks and rounded on critics

Members of Parliament in Kenya have approved plans to pay themselves large salary increases just a few weeks after a new parliament was sworn-in.

But there is widespread public disapproval, with an opinion poll suggesting 85% of the public think the pay awards are unjustified at this time.

The increases will see their pay packages rise from $5,000 to well over $6,000, in a country where the majority of the population survive on just $1 a day.

They also come with the country's economy still struggling some three months since President Mwai Kibaki's opposition alliance won elections.

But the MPs, in a debate that lasted for two-and-a-half hours, defended their action insisting the rises would strengthen the house and make members more effective in the performance of their tasks.

The pay awards were recommended by a commission that examined the MPs pay package.

Press criticised

The packages include salaries, allowances and benefits available to them in both parliament and in their constituencies.

Finance Minister David Mwiraria told his colleagues that even though the additional expenditure would be a strain on the economy he would "pay the salaries from the same sources used to pay the salaries of other public officials".

The Daily Nation newspaper which had conducted the opinion poll ahead of the debate found that Kenyans put a revival in the economy before MPs pay demands.

Others thought the MPs pay came too early as they have not yet "even found their seats in the House".

President Kibaki's priority is to boost the economy

But MPs closed ranks and bitterly attacked the newspaper for, as they claimed, trying to incite the public.

Mr Oloo Aringo a nominated member of Parliament from the ruling National Rainbow Party said: "By paying the MPs a reasonable sum of money, we want them to spend more time in the House articulating issues touching on the people rather than having to dash out of the house to do their own businesses."

Calling for support for the increase, Mr Aringo added: " We do not want MPs who are paupers and can be bought and sold like goats.

The pay rise is expected to come into effect when the National Assembly Remuneration Act is amended.