By Edwin Makiche
BOMET, KENYA: Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) want grants to purchase vehicles just like MPs who will receive a Sh7 million each.
Led by the former Bomet mayor Joyce Korir, the MCAs decried that they have been sidelined saying that they were the least paid elected leaders in the country.
They said that despite their salary being revised downwards no leader has come out to agitate for their ‘rights.’
They also said that the big disparity between their salary and other state officials adversely affected their motivation to do their work.
“Despite being ‘honourable’ members we are a forgotten lot in the current discussions about salaries, our salary has been slashed from Sh 300,000 to 100,00 and later to Sh 79,000, but no one has come out to speak about this blatant injustice. We now want this issue addressed and our salaries reinstated to the initial figure of Sh 300,000,” she said.
The County representatives seem to be following the footsteps of the national assembly MPs in their demands.
Korir said they were ready to frustrate devolution process if their concerns are not addressed.
She argued that following a move by the IEBC to merge wards, their area of jurisdiction had broadened hence they needed a hefty pay, Commuter allowances and personal assistants to be able to deliver their mandate.
“MCAs will now be serving three wards or so, they will also be expected by citizens to initiate projects and assist those in need, with all these expectations, how will these leaders operate with a pay of less than Sh50,000 after being taxed?” she said.
The county representative was speaking at Bomet on Tuesday when she presented the MCAs a petition to Bomet senator Wilfred Lesan.
