Revealed: Billions MCAs earn as monthly sitting allowances

County Assemblies spent Ksh.1.09 billion on MCAs sitting allowances during the first nine months of Financial Year 2023/24, a report by the Controller of Budget now shows.

Dated April 2024, the report highlights how the counties spent their allocated budget during the reporting period. In the report, MCAs were allocated Ksh.2 billion but spent Ksh.1 billion, translating to 54.4 per cent absorption rate. 

In contrast, the MCAs spent 43 per cent more than the previous financial year whereby Ksh.716.57 million was spent. 

A Flourish table

According to the report, Baringo MCAs earned the highest amount as each member earned an average monthly sitting allowance of Ksh.162,843. The County was allocated Ksh.89 million sitting allowances in the budget and spent Ksh.65 million from it.

This was followed by 31 Embu MCAs who earned Ksh.145,827 each, Kakamega MCAs (Ksh.100,282) and Machakos (Ksh.87,651).

Nairobi MCAs were allocated Ksh.84 million allowances in their budget but used Ksh.34 million, translating to 41 per cent. Each MCA earned Ksh.31,247.

Kakamega MCAs accounted for the highest budget allocation with Ksh.131 million whereby each MCA earned Ksh.100,282. Turkana MCAs received the lowest allowances with each MCA earning Ksh.19,667.

This comes amid calls by the Kenyan youth for the Kenya Kwanza Administration to cut down on cost and the funds to be allocated to critical areas. 

During a roundtable discussion with the media, Ruto warned that the country will have to borrow extra funds to recoup the amount that was to be raised by Finance Bill, 2024. 

Kenyans have, however, stressed that the government should reduce the public wage bill among other expenses to reflect on the current state of affairs.