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Kenya's leader gets huge pay rise | Kenya's leader gets huge pay rise |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Kenya's parliament has voted to increase the salary of President Mwai Kibaki by two-thirds. | Kenya's parliament has voted to increase the salary of President Mwai Kibaki by two-thirds. |
MPs approved a government motion to raise his basic pay and allowances from $26,000 a month to more than $44,000. | |
Opposition members objected to the rise, saying 60% of Kenya's population of 32m live on only $1 a day. | Opposition members objected to the rise, saying 60% of Kenya's population of 32m live on only $1 a day. |
But Finance Minister Amos Kimunya said the country should give "the institution of the presidency the respect and dignity it deserves". | But Finance Minister Amos Kimunya said the country should give "the institution of the presidency the respect and dignity it deserves". |
There are civil servants who earn peanuts Opposition MP William Ruto | There are civil servants who earn peanuts Opposition MP William Ruto |
Mr Kibaki came to power in 2002 promising to end decades of corruption and improve the living standards of Kenyans. | Mr Kibaki came to power in 2002 promising to end decades of corruption and improve the living standards of Kenyans. |
Opposing the hike, Kanu MP William Ruto said the salaries for civil servants needed an increase more urgently. | Opposing the hike, Kanu MP William Ruto said the salaries for civil servants needed an increase more urgently. |
"There are civil servants who earn peanuts and we should also review their salaries," he said. | "There are civil servants who earn peanuts and we should also review their salaries," he said. |
Several groups of workers, such as university lecturers have held strikes, complaining of low pay. | Several groups of workers, such as university lecturers have held strikes, complaining of low pay. |
The MP claimed that some of them earned as little as 4,000 Kenyan shillings ($57) a month, Kenya's Daily Nation newspaper reports. | The MP claimed that some of them earned as little as 4,000 Kenyan shillings ($57) a month, Kenya's Daily Nation newspaper reports. |
"The president cannot die of hunger if his salary is not increased," another veteran MP Raila Odinga added during the debate. | "The president cannot die of hunger if his salary is not increased," another veteran MP Raila Odinga added during the debate. |
Over the past four years, Mr Kibaki's administration has been hit by a multi-million dollar corruption scandal which has damaged the president's credibility with Western donors. | Over the past four years, Mr Kibaki's administration has been hit by a multi-million dollar corruption scandal which has damaged the president's credibility with Western donors. |
Some donors have estimated that up to $1bn had been lost to graft between 2002 and 2005. | Some donors have estimated that up to $1bn had been lost to graft between 2002 and 2005. |
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