This archive report was first published on 10 October 2019.
According to official data, Kenya's poorest counties have been prioritizing salaries and sitting allowances for their Members of County Assembly (MCAs) over development projects. In the last financial year, these counties allocated billions to foreign trips, meetings, and salaries, rather than improving the lives of their people.
Isiolo, Samburu, Lamu, Garissa, Busia, Vihiga, and Tharaka Nithi are among the counties that have been criticized for their spending habits. The monthly sitting allowance in these counties averages Sh79,672 per MCA, compared to Sh77,971 in the richest counties.
Busia County paid each MCA a sitting allowance of Sh146,149 per month, exceeding the set threshold. Other counties that surpassed the limit include Homa Bay, Nyamira, and Tana River.
“Migori County Assembly reported an expenditure of Sh69.11 million without a budget allocation for MCAs sitting allowances in the Approved Budget,” said outgoing Controller of Budget, Ms Agnes Odhiambo, in a 2019 report.
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