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A move by the Salaries and Remunerations Commission (SRC) to approve a Sh4.5 billion car grants for all the MCAs and Speakers has sparked a national uproar.

Though the commission has defended its decision to give a Sh2 million grant to each MCA as one informed by principles of equity and fairness, political leaders and activists posit that the monies should have been allocated to solve pressing national issues such as healthcare workers strike.

Former Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow argued that SRC is wrong to suggest counties make “administrative” approvals to effect the car grants to MCAs.

He termed the conversion of Sh4.5 billion car loan to a grant as illegal and that amounts to a write-off of a government loan which requires approval by parliament.

“Only months earlier, SRC rejected allowances for our health workers. Yesterday, it advised governors to give MCAs’ car grants totaling Sh4.5 billion. What a shame for an independent constitutional commission that now plays second fiddle to the Executive,” said Kerrow.

In awarding the grants, SRC chairperson Lynn Mengich (left)said her commission takes cognisance of the similarity of the roles of the legislators at the county and national levels.

Transport Facilitation Benefit

“It should be noted that the category of benefits to the legislators at the county and national levels are similar, with the exception of Transport Facilitation Benefit “Car Grant” that is provided to the legislators at the national level,” Mengich said in a memo addressed to the newly elected Chairperson of the Council of Governors (CoG) Martin Wambora.

“As such all county assembly speakers and members of the county assembly who had taken car loans will now have the facility converted to a grant,” she added.

Mengich however, clarified that the car loan facility funds will not affect the country’s expenditure ceiling as provided by the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA).

Narc Kenya Party leader Martha Karua questioned the timing of the SRC letter to COG chair  suggesting  the commission is but an appendage of the executive.