Kiambu residents collect signatures to oust Wamuchomba

Gathoni wa Muchomba has apologised to Kiambu residents for her remarks on SRC’s move to reduce MPs’ salaries.

In an interview on Wednesday, the newly elected woman representative said her campaigns took a lot of resources and that she deserves more money.

She further told NTV’s Trevor Ombija that leaders are elected because they are qualified and should not be turned into beggars.

“I deserve better pay. I need to look decent and honourable as a woman rep,” she said, noting she and others will take care of the people’s interests.

This, she said, is why the Salaries and Remuneration Commission should take good care of legislators.

Residents in the county immediately launched a campaign to collect signatures to block her swearing-in.

Following the attack, Gathoni said on Thursday that she is sorry for the pain her comments caused the people.

“I offer my sincerest apology to my party patron and President Uhuru Kenyatta, my fellow constituents, staff, family and especially all Kenyans who were offended by my comments”.

The politician said this followed “deep soul searching” as she is a God-fearing servant leader who realised she had let residents down. Noting they put their faith in her, she promised to do everything in her power to learn from the “regrettable” mistake so as to regain their trust.

“I withdraw the comments and commit to continue to serve you diligently and abide by the SRC salary scales without question,” she said in a statement.

Gathoni emphasised she will not betray the people and the party’s trust.

She asked her supporters to ignore the fake Twitter and Facebook accounts in her name as they carry insults.

Kenyans on social media expressed outrage after newly elected MPs vowed to reject pay cuts proposed by SRC.

The commission proposed a new pay structure before the August 8 general election that slashed MPs’ salaries from Sh 710,000 to Sh 621, 250 per month.

It put sitting allowances at a maximum of Sh80,000 for MPs and Sh128,000 committee chairs, and removed mileage reimbursement.

Earlier yesterday, President Uhuru Kenyatta rebuked MPs for their opposition, saying the move is a show of greed and lack of a calling to serve.

Uhuru affirmed his support for the recommendations saying he will not sign into law, a bill some MPs plan to take to Parliament to contest the commission’s move.

Cc…The Star