This archive report was first published on 16 October 2019.
Published on October 16, 2019, the Controller of Budget data revealed that Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) in Narok received the highest benefits, with each MCA taking home an average of Sh765,635 a month.
While the average monthly benefits offered to MCAs have crossed the Sh500,000 mark for the first time, using taxpayers' money, Narok MCAs' average salary, allowances, and benefits rose to Sh547,146 in the year to June.
According to the data, nationally, Narok representatives received the highest benefits, followed closely by MCAs from Taita Taveta (Sh722,292) and Machakos (Sh719,867).
On the other hand, Bungoma MCAs were the least paid, with an average benefit of Sh270,005 a month, three times lower than Narok.
The data also showed a 21% increase in MCA benefits after the High Court scrapped the Salaries and Remuneration Commission's (SRC) cut on State officers' benefits.
MCAs earn Sh165,000 monthly salary, Sh5,000 for airtime, sitting allowance of Sh5,000 per session, monthly mileage allowance of Sh39,800 for intra-county travel, with the rest of the hundreds of thousands as per diems for local and foreign trips.
“Travelling should be rationalised in order to free funds for implementation of key development programmes,” the Controller of Budget advised.
