Economy

MCAs monthly sitting allowance past Sh100,000

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Ms Agnes Odhiambo, the Controller of Budget. PHOTO | FILE

The average monthly sitting allowance paid to Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) rose by 14 per cent in the nine months to March, crossing the Sh100,000 mark for the first time.

Data from the Controller of Budget (CoB) shows that each MCA on average took home Sh102,045 each month, up from Sh89,654 in a similar period a year earlier.

Sitting perks paid to the MCAs have been on the rise since assuming office in March 2013, sparking an uproar from residents that meeting and travel allowances are taking a huge chunk of county governments’ revenues.

County representatives spent Sh2.9 billion on foreign and domestic travel in the period to March and splashed millions on cars.

The MCAs earned an average Sh82,712 a month in sitting allowances in their first year that ended in June 2014. The allowances are paid out for attending plenary (chamber) sittings and committee meetings.

Besides the sitting allowances, MCA earn a monthly salary of about Sh123,750 and mileage allowances, underlying the benefits that have made Kenya’s political class one of the best paid in Africa.

Controller of Budget Agnes Odhiambo say that 10 counties paid monthly sitting allowances in excess of the Sh124, 800 set by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).

READ: Greedy MCAs rob counties of billions in sitting allowances

Busia ward representatives received the highest amount of money in sitting allowances in the nine months to March while their Murang’a counterparts were the least paid.

On average, each MCA in Busia was paid Sh202, 969 per month in the period to March. Their 50 counterparts in Vihiga pocketed Sh31,468 per month.

In Kisumu, each MCA pocketed Sh134, 665 every month. Other counties that exceeded the SRC limit include: Taita Taveta (Sh172,810), Siaya (Sh166,830), Trans Nzoia (Sh152, 044), Homa Bay (Sh148, 525), Nyandarua (Sh142, 726), Samburu (Sh141, 003) and Vihiga (Sh134, 163).

The disclosure comes at a time when the MCAs are pushing for higher pay, including perks, mortgage loans, car grants, ward offices and a budget for hiring drivers, bodyguards and secretaries.

The county representatives in 2013 were pushing for their wages to be tripled to Sh257,500 per month.

They also wanted the State to pay their domestic staff, offer them an annual medical insurance cover of Sh5.3 million each, and special duty allowances of Sh77,523. MPs are enjoying heavy perks, which cost taxpayers more than Sh10.8 billion in the nine months to March.

MPs are entitled to a tax-free car grant, allowances for mileage and unlimited committee sessions as well as pension.

Though each of the 416 MPs and Senators earn a basic monthly salary of more than Sh550,000, the allowances push their monthly take-home to more than Sh1 million.

Many Kenyans have voiced concern about the perks of elected leaders, accusing them of seeking public office for personal gains in a poor country where the unemployment rate stands at about 40 per cent.

But politicians argue that they deserve the high compensation because constituents expect them to provide donations.