MCAs bank Sh376m in benefits at the height of pandemic

By Dominic Omondi

Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) in 18 counties handed themselves huge additional sitting allowances at the height of the pandemic - when coronavirus disease (Covid-19) was ravaging the

economy.

Amidst massive job losses occasioned by Covid-19 containment measures, some county Assemblies raided the public coffers to award themselves hefty sitting allowances between July and September.

Analysis of the latest report by the Controller of Budget shows that close to over a third of the 47 county Assemblies spent an average of Sh63,140  on monthly sitting allowances per MCA, in the first quarter of the financial year 2020/21.

This compares to Sh30,945 spent during the same period ending June 2020.

Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o noted that county Assemblies spent Sh376.68 million on MCAs’ sitting allowances, against an approved budget allocation of Sh2.75 billion during the reporting period.

“This expenditure translates to 13.7 per cent of the approved MCAs sitting allowance budget, and a decrease from 18.6 per cent attained in a similar period of the financial year 2019/20 when Sh475.41 million was spent,” Nyakang’o.

Kisumu recorded the highest increase, with its MCAs spending an average of Sh159,354 per person during this period. In a similar financial period last year, the lakeside county did not spend any cash on MCAs sitting allowances.

The second-largest spender was Homa Bay, which put an average of Sh75,443 into the pockets of ward representatives, an increase of 89 per cent compared to the same period.

Taita-Taveta and Turkana, saw their sitting allowances increase from zero to Sh54,154 and Sh40,345 respectively.

Busia’s expenditure doubled from Sh41,633 in the first three months of the financial year 2019/20 to Sh81,207 between July and September 2020.

Other counties that saw their spending on sitting allowances increase during this period included Machakos, Elgeyo Marakwet, Laikipia, Makueni, Kwale, Nyeri, Siaya, Kirinyaga.

Others were Marsabit, Trans Nzoia, Tana River, Kiambu and Kisii. However, 26 County Assemblies saw their average expenditure on sitting allowances decline during the period under the review.

Twelve County Assemblies did not report expenditure on sitting allowances during the reporting period. These were Bungoma, Garissa, Isiolo, Kajiado, Kilifi, Kitui, Mandera, Mombasa, Nakuru, Nyamira, Wajir and West Pokot.

Another 15 counties saw their expenditures decline during this period.

They include Migori, Meru, Murang’a, Embu, Narok, Kakamega, Kericho, Tharaka Nithi, and Samburu. Others are Nandi, Lamu and Nyandarua.

Increased expenditure on sitting allowances come at a time when counties missed on their shareable revenue allocation in some months last year, with Treasury citing poor collection of taxes.

Moreover, there was a decline in economic activities, with most Kenyans being asked to do their meetings virtually as a means to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Leading by example, President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto took an 80 per cent pay cut with money going towards the fight against Covid-19.

Cabinet Secretaries and Chief Administrative Secretaries saw their salaries slashed by a third while Principal Secretaries lost 20 per cent of their salaries.

However, rather than heed to President Kenyatta’s plea to take a pay-cut in the fight against the pandemic, the leaders pocketed more monthly sitting allowances compared to the pre-Covid period.

Owing to Covid-19, revenue collection by the 47 counties declined, according to the  Controller of Budget. “We recommend that counties develop and implement strategies to enhance own-source revenue collection to ensure the budget is fully financed,” she said.