Data from the Controller of Budget (CoB) shows that each MCA on average took home to Sh54,068 per month in 12 months to June, down from Sh113,636 in a similar period a year earlier.
This marks the biggest drop since the onset of devolution when the ward representatives earned an average of Sh88,044 per month in the year to June 2014.
During the period under review, the county assemblies spent Sh1.46 billion on MCAs sitting allowances against an approved budget of Sh2.34 billion, saving taxpayers more than Sh800 million.
The average monthly sitting allowance paid to Members of the County Assemblies (MCAs) in 12 months to June dropped by more than half, following last year’s cut on State officers' perks and benefits.
Data from the Controller of Budget (CoB) shows that each MCA on average took home to Sh54,068 each month, down from Sh113,636 in a similar period a year earlier.
This marks the biggest drop since the onset of devolution when the ward representatives earned an average of Sh88,044 per month in the year to June 2014.
“This expenditure translates to 62.3 percent of the approved MCAs sitting allowance budget, and a decline from 75.1 percent attained in FY 2016/17 when Sh2.32 billion was spent,” said CoB Agnes Odhiambo in the rreport.
During the period under review, the county assemblies spent Sh1.46 billion on MCAs sitting allowances against an approved budget of Sh2.34 billion, saving taxpayers more than Sh800 million.
In July last year, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) abolished MCAs’ mileage reimbursements, sitting allowances for plenary sessions and special responsibility perks.
The review meant that the new crop of representatives elected on August 8 elections are not expected to earn monthly sitting perks exceeding Sh80,000, down from the previous Sh124,800.
Besides the SRC reviews on salaries and perks, the drop in average sitting allowance is linked to MCAs absence at the county assemblies ahead of the August 8 General Election to campaign for re-election.
The allowances have been on a steady rise since the MCAs took office in May 2013, causing concern that the perks were gobbling up county government revenues with minimal corresponding impact in terms of public service.
The perks paid to MCAs had made the position the most sought after job in Kenya’s politics.
The sitting perk along with the basic salary, travel and airtime allowance pushed the MCA’s monthly pay to about Sh300,000.
Now, the MCAs pay has been cut to about Sh200,000 monthly.
Kakamega and Marsabit led the allowances gravy train in the review period with each MCA pocketing Sh124,800 and Sh120,968 monthly respectively.
Others that surpassed the monthly SRC ceiling were Tana River at Sh93,599, Vihiga (Sh85,453) and Taita Taveta at Sh80,760.
This is in comparison to their more frugal counterparts in Turkana, Bomet and Kajiado who received the least from meetings at Sh9,805, Sh17,906 and Sh18,634 a month respectively.
The SRC, which sets salaries for public servants, unveiled the 2017-2022 pay structure, which replaced the previous one, slashing MCAs pay from Sh165,000 to Sh144,375 a month.
PAYE Tax Calculator
Note: The results are not exact but very close to the actual.
