The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has abolished parliamentary sitting allowances for Member of Parliament, County Executive Committee and Speakers effective August 9.
During a meeting with the Editor’s Guild at a Nairobi hotel, SRC Chairperson Lyn Mengich noted the new directive will save the government only Sh382.2 million.
“Sitting allowances for plenary session; is abolished and ceases to be payable,” the notice reads in part.
The National Assembly had 349 members, while the Senate had 67 members who received a Sh5,000 plenary allowance.
The Senate met three times, whereas the National Assembly met four times.
MPs’ cars will be maintained by them rather than the state.
Mengich stated that the payment will be paid upon taking office as a State officer in the 13th Parliament.
“The monthly remuneration is fixed for the term of office of a Member of Parliament, unless reviewed and set by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission,” she said.
She further stated that the deconsolidated remuneration structure is in accordance with the Court’s decision in Nairobi, ELRC Petition 29 of 2019.
Members of the Senate and National Assembly who serve on Committees will be given the following Committee Sitting Allowance:
The Chairperson would be paid Sh15,000 every session, with a monthly maximum of Sh240,000.
The Vice-Chairperson will be paid Sh12,000 every session, up to a monthly maximum of Sh192,000.
Members will be paid Sh7,500 every sitting, with a monthly maximum of Sh120,000.
Previously, the commission noted that MPs’ committee sittings, local travel perks, and car grants have been reduced ahead of the August General Election in the latest push to reduce the country’s ballooning wage bill.
Mileage claims of Sh187 per kilometer for a return trip to their constituencies was reduced to Sh112.
It capped committee meetings to eight a month from the present unlimited sessions, hitting the two perks that have had the effect of doubling a lawmaker’s pay.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Justin Muturi chastised the SRC, saying that it was picking a fight where there was none. He stated that if re-elected, some of his members planned to boycott plenary sessions.
“There are those MPs who have confided to me that if they get re-elected in the 13th parliament, they will just be coming in the chamber to record attendance then leave. The SRC is picking fights where there are none. Why mistreat the MPs when their colleagues around the world, including the neighboring countries, are treated well?” questioned Muturi.
Legislators had been advocating for a wage raise from the existing sh710,000 taxable income to Sh1.2 million in order to put them on level with judges of the Court of Appeal.
They contend that because they work in the same industry, they should be paid the same. They were also advocating for the Sh400,000 monthly home allowance that appellate judges and cabinet secretaries receive.