Senators Rally for Increased MCA Salaries: Taxpayers Face Additional Sh10.4bn Burden
Senators have joined MCAs in their demand for better compensation. A move that could cost taxpayers an additional Sh10.64 billion per year in ward representative salaries.
This occurs at a time when the nation is struggling with a high cost of living. Below-target revenue collection, and a ballooning public debt.
The lawmakers desire not only an increase in the gross monthly salaries of MCAs to Sh397,320. But also the return of their sitting and mileage allowances. As well as their Sh2 million car grant, a move that will require taxpayers to spend more money.
Kenya’s 47 county assemblies have 2,232 MCAs, of which 1,450 are elected and 782 are nominated.
The MCAs now receive a gross monthly salary of Sh144,373. After the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) reduced the Ward Representatives’ salary from 5h165,000.
In addition, the Commission chaired by Lyn Mengich abolished sitting and mileage allowances. As well as the Sh2 million grant it had approved in February 2021 in July preceding the 2022 elections.
However, last month MCAs renewed their call for a 27 percent increase from the current 16 percent of the governor’s salary.
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This will result in a monthly salary increase of Sh397,320. This will amount to sh886,800,000,000 per month and sh10,64 billion per year.
Francis Wambua, MCA of Kinanie, led the charge for better compensation, stating that MCAs should be treated equally to other elected officials.
Senators have joined their colleagues in condemning the SRC for undermining devolution by reducing the benefits of MCAs.
Senate Deputy Speaker Kathure Murungi launched a scathing attack against the SRC, arguing that the Commission should be disbanded immediately.
He stated that the current monthly basic salary of Sh86,625. That MCAs earn is a slap in the face, given that they are elected by the people. To perform the same functions as senators, who earn Sh710,000.
The senator from Meru stated that the minimum wage should not be less than Sh500,000. In addition to car grants and mileage allowances.
He questioned why the Commission meets three times a month and receives Sh40,000 for each meeting. But when MCAs attend the county assembly to carry out their duties, they are not compensated.
Mr. Murungi stated, “If devolution is to succeed in Kenya, it will be through the empowerment of MCAs and senators, as these two institutions will be able to manage the billions allocated to counties.”
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Senator Danson Mungatana of Tana River stated that it is time to establish another body. To determine the salaries of elected officials. Rather than leaving everything to the whims and decisions of the SRC.
Senator Boni Khalwale of Kakamega threatened to rally his colleagues. To boycott the passage of crucial bills until the SRC ceased their arrogance.
He stated that Kenyans were not insane for wanting to amend the Constitution to create wards in the country so that the Commission could undermine devolution.
Grassroot leaders
“It appears that the two women who have occupied the office were instructed by someone to make devolution fail. In the same way, they devalue senators, they now devalue MCAs. “This arrogance must cease,” stated the majority whip of the Senate.
Senator Ali Roba of Mandera stated that it is time for the SRC to stop making decisions behind a desk. Without understanding what MCAs face as grassroots leaders.
He stated that over 12 county assemblies have dissolved. Putting devolution in jeopardy at a time when counties should be passing their budgets.
“Cutting the salaries of MCAs was an extremely arrogant and ignorant decision. SRC must be forced to recognize the actual function of MCAs. If this continues, devolution will grind to a halt, and as senators, we cannot allow this.”
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Stewart Madzayo, leader of the minority in the Senate, stated that MCAs are the foot soldiers of devolution and should be treated fairly.
“We cannot permit such an insult to the MCAs. How can non-elected CECs earn more than four times as much as elected MCAs? It should be the opposite,” stated the senator from Kilifi.
The senators were responding to a request for a statement from Senator Samson Cherargei of Nandi. Who expressed alarm over the reduction of salaries and allowances for MCAs during the fiscal year ending in June 2023.
In the request for a statement, he wanted the SRC to appear before the Senate’s Devolution committee. To explain the justification for the reduction of the monthly salaries of MCAs, which are currently Sh86,618.
Senators Rally for Increased MCA Salaries: Taxpayers Face Additional Sh10.4bn Burden
Senator Cherargei added that county legislators have not received a sitting allowance, car grants, or mileage allowances since 2022.
He bemoaned the fact that MCAs are the lowest paid even though the county ministers they are expected to vet earn more than four times as much (5h404,250).
According to data compiled by the SRC, the President earns Sh1.4 million, the Vice President Sh1.2 million, the Speaker of Parliament Sh1.16 million, the Deputy Speaker 5h928,000, the Governor Sh924,000, the Deputy Governor Sh621,250, and the Members of Parliament Sh710,000.
In contrast, governors earn Sh924,000, their deputies Sh621,250, members of county executive committees 5h404,250, speakers Sh525,525, their deputies 5h216,563, and MCAs Sh144,373.
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The MCAs argue that since the MPs’ salary is 43% of the President’s, theirs should also be the same, thus 5h397,320 to replicate the MPs’ salary.
In the absence of the reinstatement of plenary allowances for effective legislation, the ward representatives will paralyze the assembly business.
Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruyiot argued that the SRC should appear before the Senate to explain the rationale for reducing the salaries and allowances of MCAs, describing the action as “grossly out of order.”
He argued that it is unfair to expect MCAs to fulfill their constitutional duties while receiving meager compensation and being denied car grants and sitting allowances.
“This is not about the income or welfare of MCAs; rather, it is about devolution. Mr. Cheruiyot stated, “I hope the devolution committee will guide us so that we can rectify the grave injustices against our MCAs.”
Some ward representatives, according to the senator of Kericho, have become choirmasters of governors due to inadequate compensation.
“How can you expect an MCA who awakens in the village to a line of twenty villagers who expect you to solve their problems with such a salary? “Unfortunately, they will be forced to devise ingenious survival strategies, some of which will involve undermining the very responsibility for which they were elected,” he said.
Senator Enock Wambua of Kitui stated that MCAs are the primary overseers of devolution and that it is laughable to expect them to receive a basic monthly salary of Sh86,000 and then vet CECs who earn more than Sh400,000.
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He stated that county legislators should receive higher salaries and allowances to better equip them for their primary oversight role.
“Devolution will either succeed or fail in county assemblies and the success or failure will be directly related to the amounts of money that we give to MCAs not just as salaries but as allowances to carry out their responsibilities,” he said.
MCAs are entitled to committee sitting allowances of Sh3,900 per sitting, capped at Sh62,400 per month. Committee chairpersons receive Sh6,500 per month, capped at Sh104,000, and vice-chairpersons receive Sh5,200 per sitting, capped at Sh83,200.
Ms. Mengich, the chairperson of the SRC, announced a new salary structure for MPs and MCAs who will assume office following the August 9 elections in 2022.
In July 2017, the SRC also reduced the monthly pay of MCAs to Sh144,375, eliminated monthly mileage and sitting allowances, and reduced per diem rates.
However, the High Court reinstated the benefits in 2018, compelling the SRC to increase the limit on sitting allowances and reinstate MCAs’ travel benefits, thereby increasing the monthly salary to Sh165,000.
Since 2013, according to MCA Wambua, MCA compensation has only been revised once, from Sh79,200 to Sh123,750 to Sh165,000 in November 2013 before being reduced in July 2022.
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“According to Kenyan labor law, a worker’s pay cannot be reduced without their consent, even in times of financial hardship. Therefore, we request that the SRC reconsider reinstating and reviewing the compensation of members so that they can become effective legislators,” he said.
The county assemblies forum (CAF) and SRC proposed a new pay structure for full implementation in the fiscal year ending in 2025 last week.
In the newly proposed structure by the SRC, the gross salary of the county speaker, who currently earns Sh525,525 will increase to Sh601,674.
The leaders of the majority and minority, who currently receive Sh144,373 equivalent to an MCA, will now receive Sh204,717.
The increase will be implemented in stages, with the speakers earning Sh562,312 in the fiscal year 2023/2024 and the full increase being implemented in the fiscal year 2024/2025.
Before the full implementation, the majority and minority leaders will earn Sh191,324 in the next fiscal year.
Deputy Speakers of County assemblies who currently earn Sh216,563 will receive Sh247,943, with implementation commencing at Sh231,722 in the following fiscal year.
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However, a faction of MCAs led by Mr. Wambua has rejected the offer, arguing that they will be the least benefited from the newly proposed structure, which proposes an increase to Sh154,481 in the upcoming fiscal year and to Sh164,588 in the fiscal year ending in June 2025.
The ward representatives advocate for issues such as the reinstatement of plenary sitting allowances, financial independence, and the repeal of the 30 percent tax on the car reimbursement fund.
Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai, a member of the breakaway faction, accused SRC of employing a divide-and-conquer strategy to diffuse MCA’s demands.
“The salary disparity in the proposed structure is so extreme. They desire to make the house leadership feel at ease, but they are only MCAs. Mr. Alai stated, “We are aware that they are using divide and conquer to render the MCAs incapable of advocating for their demands.”
Senators Rally for Increased MCA Salaries: Taxpayers Face Additional Sh10.4bn Burden
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