We’ll shut down counties over pay row, vow MCAs

Operations in County Assemblies are headed for a major shutdown — or severe disruption — starting this morning after thousands of MCAs said they would paralyse operations to push for higher salaries and other perks, including being provided with an armed bodyguard each.

The MCAs, who currently earn about Sh144,000 are demanding that their pay be raised to Sh390,270 per month. Kenya has more than 2,000 MCAs, 1,450 of who are elected. Now, they all want the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to increase their salaries to 40 per cent of a governor’s gross salary, which stands at Sh924,000. Currently, MCAs’ pay is about 16 per cent of what a governor earns.

Additionally, the MCAs are pushing for establishment of a Ward Development Fund, which will be pegged at 40 per cent of a county’s development budget. This will be for elected MCAs. They also want their nominated counterparts to have a County Affirmative Action Fund and both funds to be anchored in law.

They are also demanding that SRC reinstate plenary allowances just as is the case with MPs and Senators and insisted the government must compel the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to revoke and refund their 30 per cent tax imposed on car loan reimbursements.

MCAs had given the national government a 14-day ultimatum, which ended yesterday. They had warned that if their grievances are not addressed, then they would shut down county assemblies, effectively paralysing operations in the 47 county assemblies and by extension governments.  

Baringo County Assembly Deputy Speaker Kipruto Kimossop — who has been spearheading the push for better terms of service for MCAs — told the People Daily that all the 47 county assemblies will this morning move adjournment motions to pave way for the shutdown.

“There will be no activity at the Assemblies until SRC heeds to the plight of MCAs. Some counties like ours are already in recess,” said Kimossop, also the Mochongoi ward MCA.

He said all County Assemblies have drafted a standard Motion in a bid to paralyse activities until their grievances are addressed.

Closing down

His views were echoed by the MCA for Koyonzo Ward in the Kakamega County Assembly, Donald Okumu. Speaking to the People Daily, Okumu confirmed that MCAs were ready to table the Motion of Adjournment today.

“We shall officially be closing down after the Motion is tabled in the Assembly and passed. This will happen countrywide,” he said.

Yesterday, however, Kakamega MCAs reported for duty as usual. They spent the better part of the day debating the Supplementary Budget in sessions presided over by Speaker James Namatsi.

Some had earlier said they were waiting for instructions from Okumu who not in the chamber at the time.

“We are waiting for a report and way forward from Hon Okumu then take the next course of action,” Isabella Mung’asia, an ODM nominated MCA, said.

Speaker Namatsi expressed his shock at the strike threat saying he had expected that the Ward Representatives and government would reach a consensus to avert a strike.“We have a lot of business to conduct at the Assembly and it will now be a disaster if the honourable members down their tools,” he said.

MCAs had earlier told the People Daily that they would not show up from today if their grievances are not addressed.

“We have shown that we are ready and willing to continue serving our people but shall take action based on the feedback from our representative, so we can not guarantee that we will report tomorrow (today),” they said.

 In Mombasa, Deputy Speaker Fadhili Makarani said they were standing in solidarity with their counterparts across the country concerning their grievances on salaries and allowances.

In an interview, he said they were still waiting for official communication on whether or not to suspend Assembly operations.

Adjourned sittings

 “Currently we have two important public participation events; one being the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) public participation and Elimu fund public participation,” he said.

As a result, MCAs had already adjourned sittings for two weeks to attend the public participation events.

Two weeks ago, the MCAs threatened to go on strike if the national government failed to meet their demands.

During their last meeting, they also resolved to compel the government to allow county assemblies to be run as autonomous entities noting that it is not possible to oversight 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 clearance from governors.

The MCAs 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.

Before a person offers themselves for election as an MCA, they are required to read sections of the law that stipulate how much they are entitled to earn as salaries and emoluments.

The current cohort of MCAs came into office in September last year, meaning that they are agitating for a change in their terms and conditions before they clock a year in office.

In the past, Members of Parliament have set a precedent of increasing their salaries soon after being elected. Unlike MCAs, MPs are responsible for approving all government spending plans, making it difficult to deny them when they pass laws increasing their own salaries and perks.

– Reporting by Dennis Lumiti, Wycliffe Kipsang, Reuben Mwambingu and Samuel Kariuki