By Edwin Makiche

Bomet, Kenya: Members of County Assemblies want grants to purchase vehicles just like MPs who will receive a Sh7 million each.

The leaders also want to be assigned two personal assistants. Led by the former Bomet mayor Joyce Korir, they complained that they are 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 pointed that the big disparity between their salary and other state officials adversely affected their motivation to work.

“Despite being ‘honourable’ members we are a forgotten lot in the current discussions about salaries, our salary has been slashed from Sh300,000 to 100,000 and later to Sh79,000, 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 Sh300,000,” she said.

The leaders have threatened to frustrate devolution process if their concerns are not addressed.

She argued that following a move by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to merge wards, their area of jurisdiction had broadened hence they deserve a better pay, commuter allowances and personal assistants to be able to deliver their mandate.

Initiate projects

“Members of County Assemblies (MCA) 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 posed.

The county representative was speaking at Bomet Tuesday when she presented the leaders petition to Bomet Senator Wilfred Lesan.

In their petition to the Senate, the MCAs want the House to define whether they (MCAs) were under the Parliamentary Service Commission or whether they would be under the yet to be formed County Service Commission.

They said that the current Constitution was silent on the issue they do not know who their employer is.

The MCA’s also want the Standing Orders of the County Assembly amended to allow senators to actively participate in the activities of the county governments.

They argued in the current arrangement, senators could only contact the county assembly by a message through the Speaker.

Lesan said the current arrangement prevents the senators from monitoring and influencing activities in their respective counties.

He said they are planning to form a senate county oversight committee to handle the issue.