Nairobi - Some 90 per cent of Kenyans want their MPs to pay taxes on their allowances, a poll published in the Daily Nation revealed Wednesday a day after lawmakers threw out an amendment to a bill that would force them to do just that.

Kenyan MPs pay tax on their basic monthly salary of around 2,500 dollars, but they enjoy tax-free allowances of almost three times that figure.

MPs argue that their allowances, which cover healthcare, entertainment and interest-free home and car loans, should not be taxed as constituents often expect the MPs to help them out financially.

However, the argument holds little water with ordinary Kenyans, who were hoping that a unity government formed in the wake of this year's bloody post-election violence would create a new breed of selfless MP.

"Once again our MPs have exhibited their insatiable greed by rejecting the government's plan to tax their allowances," the Daily Nation said in a recent editorial, reflecting widespread public anger.

Around 1,500 people were killed in clashes between rival tribes affiliated to political parties during the post-election violence at the start of the year.

Hundreds of thousands were forced to flee their homes as a campaign of murder, revenge attacks, rapes and the razing of homes swept the country.

The clashes were prompted by Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga's accusation that President Mwai Kibaki's Party of National Unity had rigged the elections.

Calm returned after several months and a deal negotiated by former UN secretary general Kofi Annan saw the creation of a power-sharing government, with Odinga sworn in as prime minister in April.

However, the rival parties have often been at loggerheads and the decision not to pay taxes was one of the few that met with approval on both sides of the fence.

In the Daily Nation poll, 43 per cent said that their MPs were performing badly, while only 19 per cent rated their performance as good. Some 30 per cent said their performance was "fair."

The poll sought the opinion of 2,051 adults between November 20 and November 23. (dpa)