MCAs allowances gulp Ksh1B in nine months 

By , July 1, 2025

Members of the County Assemblies (MCA) spent Ksh1.08 billion on sitting allowances in nine months against an approved budget allocation of Ksh1.96 billion for 12 months. 

Some of the assemblies surpassed budgets for the period under review, with the MCAs pocketing millions of shillings. 

The County Budget Implementation Review Report for the first nine months of 2024/25 financial year, covering July 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, shows that the expenditure translates to 55 per cent of the approved MCA sitting allowance budget, an increase from 54 per cent in the first nine months of 2023/24. 

Reads the report: “The County Assemblies spent Ksh1.08 billion on MCA’s sitting allowances.” 

Absorption rates 

According to the report, the assemblies with the highest absorption rates for their sitting allowance budgets include Vihiga County Assembly, which spent Ksh31.6 million for 38 MCAs, translating to 117 per cent. Each MCA received Ksh92,352. 

Wajir County Assembly spent Ksh31.7 million for the 46 MCA representing 100 per cent, as each MCA received an average sitting allowance of Ksh76,607. 

Nandi County Assembly spent Ksh27.2 million for 45 MCAs, translating to 99 per cent, while Nairobi County Assembly spent Ksh27.3 million for 45 MCAs. Each MCA in Nandi County was entitled to Ksh67,247 while those in Nairobi County were entitled to Ksh4,494. 

MCA entitlement 

In Nakuru, MCAs used Ksh29 million for 76 MCAs, translating to 55 per cent, as each MCA was entitled to Ksh42,510.

In Narok county, MCAs spent Ksh28.3 million for 590 MCAs, translating to a 99 per cent absorption rate. Each MCA was entitled to Ksh62,927. 

Apart from MCA’s sitting allowances, the report has also raised concerns over county governments’ underperformance in Own-Source Revenue (OSR) Collection. 

During the reporting period, the counties generated Ksh5.91 billion from their own-source revenue (OSR), which was 53 per cent of the annual target of Ksh87.11 billion. 

In order for them to meet their target, the report says that counties need to generate an additional Ksh41.19 billion in the fourth quarter. 

OSR is generated from the imposition of property rates, entertainment taxes, and any other taxes as authorised by an Act of Parliament. 

Reads the report: “The realised OSR is an increase compared to Sh41.40 billion generated in a similar period in FY 2023/24.” 

It adds: “The low OSR performance creates an environment for accumulating pending bills. The Controller of Budget advises county governments with low OSR performance.” 

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