Kenyan MPs back rules to shield lawmakers from staff-related lawsuits

Kenyan Members of Parliament have endorsed proposed regulatory changes for constituency and county offices designed to protect lawmakers from personal financial liability. The reforms, reviewed by the National Assembly’s Committee on Delegated Legislation, aim to update rules that have been in place since 2005.

Under the new framework, financial awards resulting from employment disputes, such as wrongful dismissal claims, would be paid from constituency or county office allocations rather than being recovered from an individual MP’s salary or personal funds.

The amendments also propose changing staff employment terms from five-year contracts to one-year renewable contracts. This shift is intended to grant MPs greater discretion and authority over the management of their personnel and office operations.