Robbing taxpayers: Fake mileage driving citizens up the wall

MPs could be pocketing millions of shillings in fictitious mileage allowances as the Parliamentary Service Commission has given them a blank cheque to claim the lucrative perks without evidence of travel.

A new report reveals the leadership of the bicameral Parliament – the Senate and the National Assembly – is paying out millions to facilitate MPs’ travel to constituencies.

The revelations could put the PSC chaired by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula in the spotlight, coming at a time Kenyans are struggling with tough financial times.

Auditor General Nancy Gathungu says her review established all that the lawmakers do is fill a transport claim form every month and the cash is wired promptly to their accounts.

“The allowances were only supported by a transport claim form,” the auditor general says. The PSC, it emerged, doesn’t demand any other documents to prove MPs travelled to and from their constituencies – or counties.

“There were no controls in place or other documentary evidence to ascertain that a member actually travelled so as to warrant the payment of the allowance,” Gathungu reveals.

Mileage allowances for many MPs, especially those from farflung constituencies, can almost double their gross salary.

An MP who makes a round trip of 0-350km to his or her constituency is entitled to reimbursement at the rate of Sh152.6 per kilometre.

MPs in this category are entitled to a maximum of Sh462,887 every month in mileage allowance.

Those from far-flung areas reap big from this allowance and could easily see their total salaries exceed the Sh1.6 million paid to the President.

According to the SRC gazette notice, MPs who go beyond 351km are paid based on the actual distance to and from their constituencies.

They are paid a reimbursement rate of Sh152.6 per kilometre, depending on constituency distance, with no cap on the maximum they can claim. An MP from Mandera, for instance, can claim a cool Sh1.2 million in mileage allowance alone every month.

A round-trip to Turkana is about 1,358km. This means an MP from the region could easily pocket Sh828,923 in mileage allowance.

Gathungu says taxpayers could be losing hundreds of millions of shillings in the questionable payments.

“In the circumstances, the lack of internal controls in payment of claimable allowances may lead to loss of public funds,” the report reads.

Mileage allowances of Sh224 million were paid during the financial year ending June 30, 2024, the year under audit review. About Sh183 million was paid to members of the National Assembly and Sh40 million to senators.

Apart from the allowance, an ordinary MPs earn a gross salary of Sh725,502 monthly. They are also entitled to a monthly car maintenance allowance of Sh356,525.

MPs get sitting allowance in committees at a rate of Sh7,500 per sitting up to a maximum of Sh120,000 per month. This means an MP from Mandera could take home up to Sh2.4 million every month.

This is besides a medical benefit which comprises an inpatient cover of Sh10 million, Sh300,000 for outpatient, and hundreds of thousands more for dental, optical and maternity cover.

They are also entitled to a mortgage of up to Sh35 million payable at three per cent interest per year for the duration of the loan. MPs are paid a daily subsistence allowance when travelling locally and abroad – at very generous rates, and Sh15,000 airtime allowance.

Parliament spent a total of Sh5.8 billion on domestic travel and subsistence, from which MPs’ mileage allowances – in excess of Sh2 billion - were drawn.

Concerns have, however, been rife about MPs from far-flung counties and constituencies who barely leave the city but claim the allowances.

Sources aware of the schemes indicate that some MPs take flights to their hometowns but claim mileage, which is restricted to use of personal vehicles.

There have also been cases of Members of Parliament who claim mileage allowance when out of the country, or on recess. Instances have been noted of MPs claiming mileage on dates when they have also received foreign subsistence allowance.

Diana Gichengo, executive director of the Institute for Social Accountability (TISA-Kenya), said the revelations point to how leaders have misplaced priorities.

“The audit shows how those in authority have no regard for austerity calls. This wastage needs to be curbed, not the rush we see in cutting budgets for things that affect ordinary Kenyans,” she said.

The Parliamentary Service Commission of the 11th Parliament busted lawmakers making fake mileage allowance claims. The SRC’s numerous attempts to abolish the mileage claims have been met with resistance, with MPs threatening sanctions like budget cuts.

Lawmakers justify the payments on grounds they buy their own cars, as they don’t have government-issued transport. Kenyan MPs are arguably the best paid state officers in the country, towering above big roles like Cabinet Secretary.