What highest paid MCAs take home as sitting allowance

Politics and policy

Ms Agnes Odhiambo, the Controller of Budget, warns that meeting and travel allowances are taking a huge chunk of county governments’ revenues. PHOTO | DIANA NGILA  

In Summary

• Each MCA in Trans Nzoia was paid Sh190,222 per month in the period to March.
• Their 40 counterparts in Vihiga earned Sh24,884 per month as counties at the Coast generally spent the least on sitting allowances relative to other devolved units.
• On average, each of the country’s 2,258 MCAs pocketed Sh89,654 in sitting allowances in the period under review.

Trans Nzoia ward representatives received the highest amount of money in sitting allowances in the nine months to March while their Vihiga counterparts were the least paid, according to a new report that shows how devolved units blew Sh2 billion on meeting fees.

The Controller of Budget’s report released on Friday shows that on average each MCA in Trans Nzoia was paid Sh190,222 per month in the period to March.

Their 40 counterparts in Vihiga earned Sh24,884 per month as counties at the Coast generally spent the least on sitting allowances relative to other devolved units.

Controller of Budget Agnes Odhiambo warns that meeting and travel allowances are taking a huge chunk of county governments’ revenues.

County representatives spent Sh5.7 billion on foreign and domestic travel in the period to March and splashed millions on cars, helping lift the earnings of new car dealers who are recording the best sales in more than a decade.

On average, each of the country’s 2,258 MCAs pocketed Sh89,654 in sitting allowances in the period under review.

“Further analysis of MCAs’ sitting allowances indicates that the average monthly sitting allowances in the following counties exceeded the SRC maximum amount of Sh124,800,” Mrs Odhiambo said in the report, which shows 12 counties were in breach.

Special audit

These include Migori, which paid an average meeting allowance of Sh167,858, Homa Bay (Sh164,893), Murang’a (Sh153,810), Mombasa (Sh153,810), Siaya (Sh150,145) and Nyeri (Sh147,426). Mrs Odhiambo recommends a special audit on the sitting allowance to establish its authenticity.

“Excess siting allowances paid to MCAs should be recovered,” she added. Others exceeded their budgets, a pointer that funds meant for other activities were diverted to pay MCAs’ allowances.

They include Turkana, which had budgeted Sh10 million for the entire year and spent Sh45.5 million in the nine months to March.

Mombasa budgeted Sh53.7 million and paid Sh59.5 million, while Kisii spent Sh94.2 million against a budget of Sh88 million.

Nairobi spent the most cash on sitting allowances at Sh201.6 million for its 128 members, who each took home Sh98,952. Besides Vihiga, other low spenders were Tana River (Sh39,239), Makueni (Sh40,974), Baringo (Sh43,674) and Kajiado (Sh43,777).

READ: Auditor probes MCAs' Sh3.71bn travel allowances

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.