Retired MPs Pension: A Plan to Oppress the Impoverished
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
On Thursday, 6 August 2020, Kenya’s National Assembly adopted the 2019 Parliamentary Pension (Amendment) Bill; that when assented into law by the President will make the government to pay retired MPs at least Sh1.15 billion as a lump sum of enhanced pension (Daily Nation, Thursday, 06/08/2020).
The decision is meant to entrench the status-quo and prioritize it over the most pressing issues facing Kenyans who are facing havoc in their lives as a result of the following:
First, the latest Covid-19 pandemic has shuttered their socio-economic backbones to an extent numerous business are shutting down while others are engaged in processes of retrenching some of their employees in order to mitigate the effects of the global pandemic. In addition, the government is exploiting the pandemic to rip financial benefits from financial institutions and so-called development partners by taking new loans and seeking financial aid under the pretext of fighting the disease.
Second, rising public debt that grew from Sh5.7 trillion in 2019 to Sh6.65 trillion by May 2020! Making Kenya’s debt status an alarming issue that forced international organizations to review Kenya’s debt stress position from moderate to high and so the future is getting miserable (The Star, Monday, 20/07/2020). The debts are growing based on the government’s appetite to embark on ghost elephant projects that hoodwink the citizens that their completion will overhaul their living conditions; but, instead they are nothing but conduits of financial embezzlement and entrenchers of corruption! Matters will worsen since Cabinet approved in March, 2020 the Public Debt and Borrowing Policy 2020 to facilitate the borrowing by county governments (The Star, Monday, 27/07/2020).
Third, the education sector has grind to a halt with parents not knowing what the future hold for their children as the 2020 school calendar was cancelled in totality. Investment both financial and psychological have gone in vain. All as a result of not have enough funds to meet the cost of the infrastructure development in compliance to the Covid-19 safety measures.
Four, increasing exploitative tax measures that are imposed by the government that is hell bent to tighten the economic nooses on the necks of the citizens by the new 3% patriotism tax on small businesses and 15% presumptive tax. Furthermore, making life further unbearable to most citizens who are living from hand to mouth throughout their lives!
The above reasons are just among many that expose the fact that secular capitalist regimes are not founded upon the basis of protecting and managing the affairs of its people in a humane manner. Alas! They are there to serve a few coteries who brand themselves to be leaders and strive to perpetuate the status-quo by rewarding and cushioning themselves from economic fires by using the backs of the feeble voting machine “citizens”! Since the regimes are only focused on meeting their egocentric interests and benefits.
On the contrary, in the Khilafah (Caliphate) system of governance led by a pious Muslim leader, the Khalifah (Caliph) is in charge of citizens both Muslims and non-Muslims in such a manner that he understands the role assigned to him by Allah (swt) of him and the rights that his citizens were accorded by Allah (swt). The Khalifah is responsible of the flock (citizens) and he will be held accountable in the Day of Judgement.
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ أَلَا كُلُّكُمْ رَاعٍ وَكُلُّكُمْ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ فَالْإِمَامُ الَّذِي عَلَى النَّاسِ رَاعٍ وَهُوَ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ…
Abdullah ibn Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Every one of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock. The leader (Khalifah) of people is a guardian and is responsible for his subjects…” Islam guarantees the individual citizens of the Khilafah their basic needs; food, clothing and shelter, the Khilafah will strive to deliver social needs; health education amongst others and at the same time provide avenues to meet luxurious needs.
In the Khilafah system no one is above the law and everyone deserves to be treated as per the dictates of the Islamic Shari’ah irrespective of either they are serving in leadership or not, color, tribe or status. Hence, favoritism and discrimination in whatever form are not tolerated at all! Therefore, let us work together day and night in order to remove the global status-quo and bring change under the just Khilafah.
Ali Nassoro Ali
Member of the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir