MCAs demand 700 per cent salary raise, say they work like ‘donkeys’
The MCAs are also pushing for the immediate implementation of the Ward Development Fund, urging lawmakers to expedite the passage of the necessary legislation.
Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) have complained that their current salaries do not reflect their workload and responsibilities, yet they work like “donkeys.”
The MCAs now want their remunerations to be increased by 700 per cent, arguing that their current pay is inadequate given the weight of their responsibilities.
More To Read
- Court rules SRC has final say on salaries of all public officers
- Court of Appeal upholds SRC decision to deny MPs extra sitting allowances
- County Speakers move to court seeking to compel SRC to grant them Sh235m in car grants
- Avoid politicising salary decisions, balance fair pay with public interests, MPs tell new SRC members
Speaking at the 5th County Assembly Summit in Nairobi, the MCAs insisted that the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) must implement the pay rise as a minimum adjustment.
"The margin of our salaries should be at par with MPs in the National Assembly. For instance, we are paid Sh80,000; we want to be paid Sh560,000, which is what governors earn. MPs' salaries are also at the same level as ministers,” Nairobi County Assembly Majority Leader Peter Imwatok said.
Busia Nominated MCA Concepta Omondi added, “We are paid poorly yet we take all the mwananchi burden.”
According to an SRC gazette notice issued on August 9, 2023, the current remuneration structure for MCAs for the financial year 2023/2024 includes a basic salary of Sh92,689, house allowance of Sh50,000, gross salary of Sh154,481 (following a recent Sh11,792 salary adjustment) and committee sitting allowance of Sh3,900 per session, capped at Sh62,400 per month.
Migori County Assembly Majority Leader Jared Ouma questioned the logic behind their current pay structure.
“MPs are getting 35 per cent of the President's salary and MCAs 10 per cent of the governor’s. how do you expect oversight to be done? We are paid like cleaners," he said.
Embu Nominated MCA Yvonne Mati voiced her frustration: “Tunalipwa mishahara kidogo and we do the donkey’s work."
Ngara MCA Chege Mwaura emphasised the need for a standardised approach to salaries.
“We are not asking to be favoured but to have the scale and rationale used at the national level to be effected.”
Beyond salary concerns, the MCAs also pressed for full financial independence from the county executive, arguing that they cannot effectively carry out their oversight mandate while depending on the same executive for salaries and funding.
“We cannot effect oversight if the same county executive is your salary remitter. Kindly let us be autonomous, take us to job group E1," Mati said.
The MCAs are also pushing for the immediate implementation of the Ward Development Fund, urging lawmakers to expedite the passage of the necessary legislation. They argue that the fund will empower them to directly address the needs of their constituencies without bureaucratic delays.
Top Stories Today
