Open letter to Kenyan MPs: We elected you to serve the people, not yourselves, stop the greed

Imagine this, while ordinary Kenyans are struggling to make ends meet, burdened by crushing taxes and soaring costs of living, Members of Parliament (MPs) are focused on one thing, “how to fatten their already bloated paychecks.” Their demands for a pay rise ring loud, drowning out the cries of millions who sent them to parliament in the first place.

MPs in Kenya already enjoy lucrative salaries, hefty allowances, and an array of perks that most citizens can only dream of. Yet, they still audaciously claim, “We deserve it.” Deserve what, exactly? The disdain is evident, while patients languish in public hospitals due to the failure of medical schemes, SHA or SHIF, and university students are forced to drop out because of a corrupt funding model, our leaders are demanding more for themselves!

At a time when patients at Kenyatta National Hospital are pleading for treatment, university dreams are being shattered by unaffordable tuition fees, and fuel prices are starting to soar, leaving the average Kenyan with empty pockets, our MPs choose to focus on self-enrichment. This insatiable greed is an affront to every hardworking Kenyan.

Parliament, once a house of hope, has turned into a house of gluttony. MPs, who should be fighting for the welfare of their constituents, are now architects of systemic exploitation. Corruption thrives under their watch, and public resources are siphoned away into their personal projects. Yes, you read that right, personal projects .

What happened to the promises they made during campaigns? What happened to servant leadership? The Kenyan people did not elect these MPs to champion their stomachs but to champion the people’s voices, struggles, and aspirations. Where then did the rain start beating us?

Kenya is at a crossroads. We cannot afford to continue on this treacherous path where leadership is synonymous with greed. It is time for a radical shift. MPs must be reminded that their mandate is to serve the people, not to milk them dry. Worse, some are just after an increased “2027 Campaign Funding” to retain their seats or go for bigger positions. That is the much, “wanafanya kwa ground."

We, the citizens, must demand accountability. We must push back against policies that benefit the few at the expense of the many. We must insist that leaders honor their campaign manifestos and prioritize the needs of the people who entrusted them with power.

It Is not too late for our leaders to change course. They can still prioritize the pressing issues affecting the common Kenyan. They can still prove that they are leaders of integrity and service.

However, we, too, have a responsibility. We must hold them to account. We must reject leaders who prioritize their greed over our needs. The rain may have beaten us, but it is within our power to find shelter and rebuild a Kenya that works for everyone, not just the elected few.

Kenya is too busy to entertain frivolous discussions about MPs’ pay rises. Let’s focus on what truly matters: equity, integrity, and service to the people. Only then can we restore dignity to our leadership and hope to the millions who depend on it.