Katiba Institute seeks full disclosure of MPs’ mileage allowance details in push for accountability

A lobby group has questioned the decision to grant Members of Parliament additional mileage allowances, calling for full disclosure of how the payments were determined.

Katiba Institute has written to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) requesting detailed information about MPs' pay, allowances, and employment terms.

The group seeks clarity on how salaries are set and whether they are based on legal and economic considerations.

The requests were made on March 30, 2025, under Article 35 of the Constitution and the Access to Information Act, which guarantees the right to access information held by public bodies.

“We want the SRC to provide all documents and evidence showing how MPs’ salaries were set, including any comparative labour market surveys,” said a representative of Katiba Institute.

The group also wants to know whether the SRC has made any recommendations for adjusting MPs’ pay since 2011. The institute is also seeking to understand whether lawmakers are considered full-time or part-time employees.

Katiba Institute has asked the PSC to provide copies of MPs’ employment contracts, along with details about their allowances, retirement benefits, and any changes made to these terms over the years. The lobby argues that some of these changes may not be justified.

The move comes amid growing public concern about the high cost of maintaining legislators, especially following revelations that all 416 MPs were granted a fixed monthly mileage allowance of Sh366,011. This comes on top of a monthly car maintenance allowance of Sh356,500, adding up to nearly Sh2 billion per year.

There is rising frustration among taxpayers, especially considering that the new perks were introduced at a time when the economy is struggling and austerity measures are affecting ordinary citizens.

The high mileage allowance can more than double an MP’s salary, which currently stands at Sh725,500 per month, particularly for those representing far-flung constituencies. Meanwhile, public servants like teachers and health workers continue to demand fair pay, often without success.

Previous audit reports have exposed cases where MPs received millions in allowances on top of their salaries, with some even accused of submitting fake claims.

"Taxpayers have a right to know how their money is being used," said activist Chris Owala. "If MPs have nothing to hide, they should have no problem releasing these documents."

Katiba Institute says if the commissions fail to provide the requested information, it may take the matter to the Commission on Administrative Justice or seek court intervention.

Legal experts say the lobby’s request is well within constitutional rights and is an important step toward accountability.

Civil society organisations have applauded the effort, saying the secrecy around MPs’ pay has long been a source of public mistrust in leadership.

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