Insisting that the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) make the minimal minimum adjustment, members of County Assemblies (MCAs) are calling for a 700% pay increase.
The lawmakers also decided to advocate for the establishment of the Ward Development Fund and financial independence from the County Executive, stating that these steps are necessary for efficient supervision and service provision, during their remarks on the last day of the 5th County Assembly Summit in Nairobi.
The MCAs focused on SRC with a resolute attitude, claiming that their present income no longer adequately compensated them for their duties.
Their resounding voices filled the summit hall, igniting a fierce dispute about income, authority, and financial autonomy.
MCA Nominated by Embu “Tunalipwa mishahara kidogo and we do the donkey’s work,” remarked Yvonne Mati.
“The margin of our salaries should be at par with MPs in the National Assembly,” Peter Imwatok, the majority leader of the Nairobi County Assembly, continued. For example, we receive Ksh. 80,000, but we would prefer to receive Ksh. 560,000, which is what governors receive. The pay for MPs is the same as that of ministers.
Concepta Omondi, an MCA nominated by Busia, added, “We take on all the mwananchi burden despite receiving poor pay.”
Jared Ouma, the majority leader of the Migori County Assembly, said: “How do you expect oversight to be done when MPs receive 35% of the President’s salary and MCAs receive 10% of the Governor’s?” We get paid like housekeepers.
“We are not asking to be favored, but to have the scale and rationale used at the national level to be effected,” said Ngara MCA Chege Mwaura after that.
The monthly compensation for State officers in the County Assembly for the fiscal year 2023/2024, which begins on July 1, 2023, is set out as follows, per a notification published in the gazette on August 9, 2023:
After a recent salary adjustment of Ksh.11,792, a member of the County Assembly receives a gross compensation of Ksh.154,481 in addition to their basic salary of Ksh.92,689 and a home allowance of Ksh.50,000.
Additionally, MCAs are paid Ksh. 3,900 per session for committee sittings, with a monthly cap of Ksh. 62,400.
However, in order to properly carry out their oversight role, the MCAs also demanded complete financial independence from the County Executive.
“If the same County Executive also remits your income, we are unable to perform oversight. Please give us freedom and direct us to employment group E1,” Embu Nominated MCA Yvonne Mati continued.
Additionally, the MCAs are increasing pressure on lawmakers to present and swiftly pass the Bill in order to expedite the implementation of the Ward Development Fund.
