Pinda: This is what I take home each month

Dodoma.Just in case you thought Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda is one of those workers who earn sky high salaries, let’s hear it straight from the man himself—he earns a monthly salary of Sh6 million.

The prime minister took the unusual step yesterday in response to a question from Mohammed Habib Mnyaa (Mkanyageni, Civic United Front).

He made the move in an attempt to clear the air in the wake of media reports attributed to the suspended Chadema deputy secretary-general, Mr Zitto Kabwe. The MP said that the premier—who describes himself as the son of a peasant—pockets about Sh30 million a month.

According to the budgets and audited accounts released by the Public Accounts Committee, though, the President earns Sh32m per month, the Vice President Sh28m and the prime minister Sh26m.

Mr Pinda himself had this to say: “I was shocked when I heard Mr Kabwe say during his tour in Rukwa that I earn more than Sh30 million. The fact is that my monthly salary is Sh6 million only and this includes my wife’s allowance. I hope God will forgive him for telling these lies.”

He also denied reports that the President and Vice President earn more than Sh30 million, and added that the difference between his salary and the two top government officials was about Sh1 million.

“You can see here that if I am earning this amount, there is no way these two top bosses could earn what was reported in the media,” he added.

Mr Pinda’s remarks come weeks after Mr Kabwe said at a public rally that the President of the United Republic receives about Sh384 million annually, averaging at Sh32 million a month—and that this amount is not taxed.

Speaking in Igunga, Mr Kabwe said the prime minister has a monthly pay package amounting to Sh26 million. He said at the time that he had decided to make public the pay of top government officials to demonstrate that publishing the pay of top public servants was not a crime.

His move came after Mwananchi newspaper was banned for 14 days for publishing a story detailing the salaries of public servants.

According to Mr Pinda, he has been able to meet his financial obligations only because of bank loans. “If there is one person who knows how to use banks for obtaining loans, that person is me,” he added. “I started with NMB and I am now with CRDB. Furthermore, after you passed a law allowing public servants to take loans amounting to half of their gratuity, I have already taken my share.”

Mr Pinda said it was true that MPs were not given opportunity to debate the salaries of top government officials such as the president, vice president and prime minister. “I have not heard issues to do with the salaries of top government officials being debated here,” he added, “but I am certain that there is a law governing payments for these leaders.”

He made the remarks when responding to a question from Mr Mnyaa, who wanted to know why Parliament had not debated and approved the salaries of top government officials. “We understand that the pay of top government officials is a constitutional issue,” Mr Pinda said, “but Parliament does not debate and approve their salaries.”

Mr Kabwe said he only wanted the earnings of public leaders made public. He also wants them to pay taxes. “According to the law, salaries are secret and allowances are secret,” he added. “I am not even sure if the amounts Mr Pinda has announced are right.”

Mr Kabwe called for a new era of doing away with secrecy and opening up on such matters. “Everyone knows exactly what American President Barack Obama earns annually,” he said. “In Kenya, salaries and allowances for the president and other leaders are public.” He wants public leaders to pay taxes. The constitution now exempts the president from paying income tax.