Members of County Assembly raked in millions in monthly sitting allowances

Members of County Assembly (MCAs) from Uasin Gishu County had the highest average earnings in sitting allowances, each pocketing on average Sh235,743 per month, a report has revealed.

The report by the Controller of Budget shows that nationally, each MCA pocketed an average of Sh 88,044 as sitting allowance per month.

In the 2013/14 financial year, counties allocated an aggregate of Sh3.2 billion for MCA sitting allowances while the actual expenditure was Sh2.4 billion.

However, there is a huge variance in the average monthly sitting allowance across the counties, with Taita Taveta members earning the least average of Sh15,827 per member per month.

Expenditure on MCA sitting allowances for Nyeri, Kiambu, Busia, Kwale, Migori and Machakos counties exceeded their budgetary allocation.

Nyeri County spent Sh69 million on MCA sitting allowances against an allocation of Sh 34.5 million, which represents an over 200 per cent absorption rate, while Kiambu, Busia, Kwale, Migori and Machakos recorded 116.2 per cent, 112.3 per cent, 110.1 per cent, 109.2 per cent and 104.5 per cent respectively.

Nairobi County registered the highest absolute expenditure on the allowances at Sh148.5 million followed by Uasin Gishu and Migori counties at Sh127.3 million and Sh125.6 million respectively.

Lamu County spent the least in allowances at only Sh 6.7 million. Taita Taveta and Elgeyo Marakwet counties followed at Sh 6.8 million and Sh12.4 million respectively.

The report shows that counties were allocated an aggregate of Sh3.2 billion for the payment of sitting allowances to the MCAs.

 Perform their mandate

In order to perform their mandate, county assemblies were allocated Sh31.2 billion, representing 12 per cent of the overall county governments budget of Sh261.1 billion.

The county assemblies spent an aggregate of Sh24.5 billion, which translates to an absorption rate of 78.6 per cent of gross estimates.

Of the total expenditure, Sh19.5 billion went to recurrent expenditure, Sh1 billion was spent on construction of county chambers, offices, and the speakers’ houses.

A further Sh4 billion was issued to the MCAs for car loans and mortgages, which attract an interest of 3 per cent as per the Salaries and Remuneration Commission circular.

The report shows that county assemblies with the highest expenditure were Nairobi, Homa Bay and Bungoma at Sh1.4 billion, Sh1.2 billion and Sh1.1 billion respectively.

Lamu, Isiolo and Tana River assemblies recorded the lowest expenditures at Sh113.6 million, Sh191.3 million and Sh210.9 million respectively.