Auditor General Nancy Gathungu has flagged irregular allowance payments in county assemblies across 17 counties, revealing that Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) received more than Sh600 million in claims that lacked proper documentation or went against approved guidelines.
In her report for the Financial Year ended June 30, 2025, Gathungu cited widespread weak controls in mileage, sitting, travel and special allowances, with several payments made without supporting records or in breach of Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) rules.
The audit shows that the affected counties include Garissa, Isiolo, Wajir, Tana River, Mandera, Samburu, Laikipia, Narok, Vihiga, Uasin Gishu, Kiambu, Murang’a, Elgeyo Marakwet and Nairobi.
In the Garissa County Assembly, 16 nominated MCAs were paid Sh28.3 million in mileage allowances after each consistently claimed the maximum monthly reimbursement of Sh147,481.
Auditors noted that “the assembly failed to justify the payments.”
An additional Sh2.5 million was paid to two officers for workshops and travel without any supporting records.
In Isiolo, MCAs received Sh5.7 million in per diem allowances for a four-day end-of-year party held about 10 kilometres from the assembly offices, despite SRC rules barring subsistence payments within a 50-kilometre radius of a duty station. Attendance records for the event were also missing.
The assembly also spent Sh6.4 million on retreats in Meru and Nanyuki without evidence that the meetings took place.
In Wajir, MCAs were overpaid Sh52.2 million in mileage claims after using inflated distances and applying a higher reimbursement rate than the one approved by the SRC.
Tana River MCAs received Sh23.4 million in sitting allowance arrears that were not supported by attendance registers or Hansard reports.
In Mandera, MCAs were paid Sh2 million in travel and subsistence allowances, but there was no evidence linking the payments to official duties.
Laikipia County Assembly recorded some of the highest questioned amounts. Auditors flagged Sh62 million in sitting, mileage and committee allowances, including Sh30.1 million that lacked meeting notices, minutes and attendance records. The assembly also paid Sh6.8 million in salary arrears allowances without documentation. The Speaker also continued receiving a house allowance despite occupying an official residence.
In Narok, MCAs received Sh2.5 million in transport allowances without SRC approval.
Kiambu County Assembly paid Sh3.2 million to two board members who did not attend any meetings.
In Elgeyo Marakwet, auditors were unable to account for Sh134.6 million paid under personal allowances.
Nairobi County Assembly failed to account for Sh303.7 million spent on impairment allowances.
Separate findings by Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o show that MCAs across the country earned Sh772.7 million in sitting allowances between July and December 2025. This represented 37 per cent of the Sh2.07 billion annual allocation.
The report raises concerns over spending priorities in county governments and the continued rise in recurrent expenditure, especially in assembly operations.
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