MCAs push for pay increase as they warn of session paralyses

Taxpayers will pay Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) up to Sh10.5 billion per year as basic salaries should the government give in to their push to have their salaries enhanced from the current Sh86,000 to Sh390,270 per month.

The MCAs want their salary to be reviewed so that they can be paid 40 per cent up from 16 per cent of the governors’ gross salaries of Sh924,000.

They said that they have set the ball rolling and their clamour for better pay has just started. They vowed to paralyse critical plenary sessions including the approval of county budgetary estimates until they are treated with equal respect with other elected leaders.

“We are underpaid yet during elections we are the ones campaigning for those other people vying for elective posts. We are the leaders at the grassroot and it is demoralising that we are unable to address the problems faced by the voters since we have no funds and we earn peanuts,” Kinanie MCA Francis Wambua.

Started journey

Wambua said that they had started a long journey to champion equality with other elected leaders especially in remuneration and funds for development noting that oversight at the county level cannot be done by weak, disrespected and demoralized legislators.

“We don’t even want to be addressed as Waheshimiwa. That title has no power if I have nothing in my pocket. MCAs are only plenary as a requirement by law since they are not empowered to execute their mandate of representation,” Wambua said.  

Naivasha East MCA Stanely Karanja revealed that the senate dismissed their petition which sought to address their welfare which left them with no option but to fight for their constitutional rights on their own.

“Those that we represent want us to build roads, pay their hospital bills, pay school fees for their children and sometimes we are forced to use our cars as ambulances, yet when we push for development funds or better pay we are being told that the economy is bad,” Karanja lamented.

Mochongoi MCA Kipruto Kimosop urged the ward representatives to put behind their political affiliation differences and support fully the agenda being fronted by the movement.

“It doesn’t matter whether you were elected through Azimio or Kenya Kwanza, the challenges we are facing while discharging our mandate is similar. We are not in the constitutional hierarchy of elected leaders by accident. The government should therefore empower us just like the way MPs, County Representatives and governors,” Kimossp said.

The MCAs further said that the government should allow the county assemblies to be run as an autonomous entity saying that it is not possible to oversight the governors yet their signatures are required for them to receive their salaries. They recounted how county bosses have continued to undermine their authority where they are not allowed to launch projects in their respective wards without permission from the governors. 

PS kicked out

So charged was their inaugural consultative meeting to push for their salary increment and Ward Development Fund that Devolution Principal Secretary Teresiah Mbaika was kicked out of the meeting as they emphasised that they can only be addressed by her bosses in President William Ruto or Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. The “PS must go,” the MCA chanted immediately she took to her seat adding that they cannot be addressed by intermediaries owing to the magnitude of their grievances.

“Politics comes with a responsibility. It is only when people are able to sit and talk that a solution can be found. As an office, we are ready to have a conversation to ensure that the national government and counties work harmoniously in the spirit of devolution. That requires patience and this is a demonstration of lack of political maturity. Even the boss (Gachagua) cannot come here. Na vile nimekuja kienyeji bila hata security, naningeinuliwa. (And the way I had casually walked in without even my security, supposing they harmed me?),”  Mbaika lamented on her way out.

The MCAs are demanding the establishment of a Ward Development Fund to be anchored in law which will be 40 per cent of the county development budget for the elected MCAs while their nominated counterparts be given county affirmative action funds. The members of the devolved units demanded that the Salaries and Remunerations Commission (SRC) reinstate plenary allowances synonymous like MPs and Senators. Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) be compelled to revoke and refund their 30 per cent tax imposed on car loans.