CoB report: Vihiga, Homa Bay MCAs earn over Sh70,000 in allowances as Busia, Mandera take home the least
Vihiga and Homa Bay MCAs received the highest average sitting allowances at Sh92,352 and Sh84,978 respectively, even as no county surpassed the Sh100,000 mark during the period ending in March.
MCAs from Vihiga, Homa Bay, Baringo, and Makueni received average sitting allowances exceeding Sh70,000 in the first nine months of the 2024/25 financial year, while those in Busia, Mandera, and Uasin Gishu took home the least—some as low as Sh9,955—according to the latest report by the Controller of Budget.
According to the latest report by the Controller of Budget (CoB), Margaret Nyakang'o, Vihiga and Homa Bay MCAs received the highest average allowances at Sh92,352 and Sh84,978 respectively, even as the average top sitting allowance across counties fell below Sh100,000 in the period to March.
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This marks a drop from the same period in the previous year, when MCAs in Baringo, Embu and Kakamega led with Sh162,843, Sh145,827 and Sh100,282, respectively.
The report further indicates that Baringo, Makueni, Kisii, Wajir, Kiambu and Kakamega also crossed the Sh70,000 mark, with MCAs in those counties receiving Sh84,910, Sh81,145, Sh79,814, Sh76,607, Sh74,565 and Sh72,758 respectively.
On the lower end, MCAs in Busia, Mandera and Uasin Gishu received Sh9,955, Sh15,549 and Sh18,825 on average.
“Analysis of development expenditure as a proportion of the approved annual development budget showed that thirty-six county governments had an absorption rate of 30 per cent and below for their development programs, and no county government had a development absorption of over 50 per cent,” Nyakango said in the report.
There were 2,218 elected and nominated MCAs across the 47 counties as of March this year, up slightly from 2,215 in the same month of 2024.
55 per cent of approved budget
Despite the overall reduction in average payouts, counties spent Sh1.08 billion on MCA sitting allowances, amounting to 55 per cent of the approved budget for the 2024/25 financial year, a slight increase from 54 per cent recorded in the first nine months to March 2024.
Sitting allowances remain a major component of county spending, often consuming funds that would otherwise be allocated to essential services such as healthcare and infrastructure.
According to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission structure, MCAs are entitled to Sh3,900 per committee sitting, capped at Sh62,400 per month. Committee chairpersons earn Sh6,500 per session with a monthly limit of Sh104,000, while vice-chairs are paid Sh5,200 per sitting, up to a maximum of Sh83,200 monthly.
The number of counties where MCAs earned an average sitting allowance of more than Sh70,000 increased from five in the nine months to March 2024 to eight counties in the current review period.
In addition to sitting allowances, MCAs also benefit from per diem allowances, funds they claim when travelling or attending official functions.
The additional earnings have sparked public criticism, with many Kenyans questioning the high cost of maintaining elected officials amid stagnant development in counties.
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