Budalangi Member of Parliament, Raphael Wanjala has expressed his disappointment in the new Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) medical scheme that now covers an Mp or Senator and only one spouse.
The scheme will cover the legislator’s spouse and at least four children under the age of 25 who are dependent on him/her.
Wanjala who has more than one wife said it was unfair for the 12th Parliament to cater for only one spouse, a requirement that was not there in the 8th and 9th parliaments.
“What will some of us with more than one wife do? It is unfair of Parliament to cater for one spouse in the medical insurance for MPs. It should have remained as it was in the past, when we were allowed to give the details of two wives and five children,” said Mr Wanjala.
The legislator disobeyed the new requirement and went ahead to include two of his wives in the medical form.
Sharing Wanjala’s sentiments were Sirisia Mp John Waluke and Fred Kapondi of Mt. Elgon who felt the requirement could split polygamous families.
“It is not fair to have a medical insurance scheme that covers only one spouse when it is a known fact that most legislators are polygamous. This is tantamount to breaking up families,” said Mr Waluke.
MPs and senators are entitled to benefits of Sh10 million per family per year for in-patient services, Sh300,000 for outpatient and Sh150,000 for maternity care per family.
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