Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has paid more than $37,000 in back taxes and is encouraging other lawmakers to also pay what they owe.

During a press conference in Nairobi on Monday, the prime minister said he is now compliant with the new constitution, which has put many lawmakers in tax arrears.

Before now, members of parliament were required to pay taxes on their salaries, but not on the significant allowances they receive.

The allowances, for items such as housing and travel, amount to more than $7,100 per month, far more than the lawmakers' monthly salary of $2,200.

The new tax requirement has been retroactively applied, beginning August 27 of last year.

Mr. Odinga said no one is above the law and urged all parliament members who have outstanding taxes to pay up.

Some lawmakers have resisted the idea of paying the new taxes, despite increasing public pressure.