Why New MPs, MCAs Will Earn Less Than Predecessors

Members of Parliaments (MP) and Members of County Assemblies (MCA) who will be elected into office after the August 9 polls will be subjected to drastic pay cuts.

The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) on Thursday, July 28 abolished car grants and allowances for the MPs and MCAs.

SRC Chairperson Lyn Mengich further announced that sitting and mileage allowances were done away with, a decision that comes as a hammer blow to those seeking to be elected into the National Assembly this year.

Cars parked at Parliament Buildings. /THE STAR

“Sitting allowance for plenary sessions in Parliament and County assemblies is abolished and ceases to be payable,” Mengich stated. 

She added that the commission was ready for lawsuits from lawmakers who in 2019 battled a similar directive, and won!

In the event the incoming politicians file lawsuits, SRC noted that it was ready to defend its decision in court using the basis that it made the directive before the new lawmakers could assume office under the new contracts.

SRC however had good news for the current and new President after it bumped up the salary by Ksh227,560 to Ksh1.44 million inclusive of house and commuter allowance.

As for the Deputy President, the salary was increased by Ksh190,875 to stand at Ksh1.2 million. 

Cabinet Secretaries had their salaries increase by Ksh169,900, while Secretary to the Cabinet, Attorney General, Principal Secretaries and Inspector General of Police had theirs go up by Ksh156,075.

Cabinet Secretaries and Attorney General will both earn Ksh924,000 inclusive of all allowances while speakers of the National Assembly and Senate will go home with salaries of Ksh1.1 million. Their deputies will take home Ksh928,000 respectively.

MPs will earn Ksh710,000, just like Senators. The MPs will have a motor vehicle reimbursement of Ksh7.5 million to facilitate the purchase of a car with not more than 3000cc engine capacity.

MPs will be paid Ksh356,525 per month car maintenance allowance as well as a reimbursement of a claimable mileage of one return journey per week at the rate of Ksh116.63 per kilometre, which will depend on the vehicle's engine capacity of not more than 3000cc.

MCAs will bag Ksh144,375 and have similar packages to the deputy speaker, who will earn Ksh216,563, a car loan of Ksh2 million and a mortgage of Ksh3 million.

The Speaker of the County Assembly will earn Ksh525,525 as well as a car loan worth Ksh4 million and a mortgage of up to Ksh20 million.