Economy

Taxpayers hit as Speakers awarded Sh137m for travel

EKWE

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi (centre) and his Senate counterpart, Ekwee Ethuro (right) with IMF mission chief for Kenya Mauro Mecagni after a meeting at Parliament Buildings. PHOTO | FILE

The offices of the National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi and his Senate counterpart Ekwee Ethuro have been awarded Sh137 million for their travel budget, reflecting the burden of keeping MPs and top parliamentary staff comfortable.

Budget documents show that Mr Muturi’s office has been given Sh67.5 million for travel for the year starting Wednesday that includes Sh32.2 million for foreign trips.

Mr Ethuro will have an annual travel budget of Sh71.8 million, which includes Sh35.5 million for travelling abroad.

The Speakers have an office that is mainly staffed with aides like personal assistants, secretaries, security and a director.

At Sh137.3 million, the Speakers’ travel budget is bigger compared to what top ministries like the Treasury, Transport, Health and Agriculture spend on trips.

The Treasury had spent Sh45.4 million in the nine months to March, Transport (Sh5.3 million), Health (Sh23.5 million) and Agriculture (Sh36.1 million).

The travel budget for the Speakers has been expanding over the past two years, increasing from Sh71 million in the year to June 2014 amid calls for austerity measures.

The overspending comes amid efforts to reduce the recurrent budget and adopt a slimmer public service to free up money for projects.

The growth in the Speakers’ travel budgets in the past two years dwarfs that of Members of Parliament who have been vilified for their large travel allowances.

READ: MPs to cost taxpayers Sh2m each per month

The National Assembly’s allocation for travel rose from Sh1.8 billion in the year ending June 2014 to Sh2.2 billion this year; a 22 per cent rise. The Speakers’ travel budget is up 93 per cent in the two years.

Parliament continues to be the biggest spender on travel with the Controller of Budget Agnes Odhiambo in her report for the nine-month period to March saying that this is more than half of government spending on the item.

“Domestic travel expenditure by the Parliamentary Service Commission accounted for 51.5 per cent of the aggregate domestic travel expenditure by the MDAs (ministries, departments and agencies,” she said.

Half of the budget for the two Speakers will be spent on foreign travel. Besides allowances, the two are among an elite group of government officials allowed to fly First Class.

The handsome travel package is in keeping with the earnings of Mr Muturi and Mr Ethuro who are some of the highest paid State officers.

A 2013 circular by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) put the pay of the National Assembly Speaker at Sh1.4 million while that of his Senate counterpart was Sh1.37 million.

The salaries are likely to have increased due to annual reviews.

Taxpayers will also spend an extra Sh15 million to fuel cars attached to offices of Mr Muturi and Mr Ethuro. This translates to Sh1.25 million worth of fuel and lubricants for vehicles under the two offices every month.