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Nairobi - Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki has rejected an attempt by MPs to award themselves a bonus of more than $105,000 (£65,660) each. The MPs, already among Africa's highest paid lawmakers, had wanted the money to be paid when parliament breaks up ahead of elections due in March 2013. But their attempt sparked angry protests against "greedy hyenas". Mr Kibaki said the bonuses were unconstitutional and unaffordable given the country's financial situation. Kenya's 222 lawmakers receive a tax-free salary of about $10,000 (£6,200) a month. The minimum wage in Nairobi is about $1,500 a year.

But on Thursday they introduced a last-minute amendment to the Finance Act which would have seen them receive the bonus - 2bn Kenyan shillings - as a send-off package. Analysts says tax increases were likely in order to foot the $23m bill. Prime Minister Raila Odinga also expressed his opposition to the bid, saying earlier on Twitter: "I would like to make it clear as I did this past weekend that I am against the MP's gratuity bonus." According to the AFP news agency, someone earning the minimum wage in Kenya would have to work for 61 years to earn the equivalent of an MP's proposed bonus. (FA)