When one thinks that Nigerian Legislators are the real shake-down con-artists in Africa, bilking the country several millions of dollars in remunerations and allowances, here comes their Kenyan counterparts, racing to the top and making a serious claim to the title. Kenyan legislators, respectively, take home in just one week more than what an average Joe-Kenyan makes in an entire one year? It is true and this is not Ripley's believe it or not hoax; or any other make-believe story to rattle your intellect. Icheoku says this is a complete absurdity as only a none caring group of people could engage in who selfishly are milking the Kenyan State dry and without much to show for their time in parliament juxtaposed with the fat brigandage and looting which they are technically engaged in. Worst still, these parliamentarians have so far refused or are refusing to pay their own fair share of income taxes on income received; such that out of 222 members only 2 are tax-compliant. According to the defense put up by these law makers in justification of their rather too high emoluments, their decision to pay themselves very high is to stem the temptations of corruption from creeping into parliament whereby parliamentarians may be vulnerable to easy compromise just to have enough money to meet body and soul's demand? As a result, they have to pay themselves like pirates in order to avoid being bought-over on every legislation. What a blackmail indeed? Icheoku says this argument does not hold water as it is akin to a bank paying off an armed bank robber so that he would not rob them again? A corrupt person is a corrupt person and it does not matter the inducement provided to preclude his vulnerability, whenever the opportunity and time presents themselves for him to make extra bucks, he would always bite. It is the law of the fish - either out of hunger or curiosity, but they always get the bait inside their mouth?
As if not bad enough, these law makers have elevated themselves above all Kenyans as they have refused to pay taxes too and it does not matter to these parliamentarians that even lowly street hustlers pay their own fair share of income taxes in Kenya? They make the law, so they reserve the legislative right to exclude themselves from such laws and its compliance or enforcement thereto? In a country where the average annual income is about $700 per year, these members of Parliament earn $9000 per month, yet they complain it is not enough? Are you still wondering now why the gap between the haves and the have-nots in Africa is so wide and the reason for the prevalence of dirt-poor people in the continent? One of the most scornful argument these lawmakers put up was that they should not pay taxes since "they are traditionally expected to pass on some of their remuneration to their constituents in order for them to keep supporting them in every election?
Now, is anyone still wondering the joke called democracy as being practiced in Africa where incumbents bribe voters to remain in power and new politicians and decent people are frustrated out of politics as they are denied every opportunity and attempt they make to break into governance. Poverty, poverty, poverty and for a few shillings these voters would sell their ballots and votes to people who but for their wealth and the crumbs that fall off their table, they would rather they did not represent them. These Kenyan mau-mau legislators even went to the extent of threatening to withhold state budget if their demands are not met? Icheoku says what a brigandage legislature at work in Kenya that will go to every and any extent to blackmail and shake down the people and government in Nairobi? And it does not help either to learn that one of these legislators, Harun John Mwau of Kilome DIstrict Kenya (pictured above), is a wanted drug baron; specifically so declared and wanted in the United States of America!
