SRC gives in to lawmakers’ mileage allowance demand

ALL members of Parliament, including those from Nairobi who cover short distances, will now benefit from mileage allowance after the Salaries and Remuneration Commission succumbed to their demands.

The Star has established that the commission has granted all the 416 MPs and senators a fixed mileage allowance of Sh366,011 per month. This translates to Sh152.26 million per month or Sh1.82 billion per year.

The revised perks mean taxpayers will shoulder the extra burden as the MPs in Nairobi and its environs who cover very short distances to Parliament will also be beneficiaries.

The new mileage allowance will be paid effective next week on April 1.

The revelation comes at a time when Kenyans are struggling with heavy taxes, a battered economy worsened by the high cost of living and huge public debt is likely to trigger public uproar against the MPs who are among the best paid in the world. MPs from far-flung areas will get more benefits.

The SRC indicated that MPs whose constituencies are more than 205km from Nairobi will claim additional amounts.

“Members of Parliament whose constituency is beyond a radius of 205km from Parliament (Nairobi) shall be paid a claimable mileage allowance of one return journey per week from Parliament (Nairobi) to their respective constituency/county,” a letter by SRC to the Parliamentary Service Commission states.

The allowance shall be paid at the rate of Sh152.6 per kilometre for the additional actual distance covered over and above the 205km.

The revelations come days after the Auditor General exposed how the MPs could be raking in millions in fake mileage claims.

The report revealed that Parliament – the Senate and the National Assembly – is paying out millions to facilitate MPs’ travel to constituencies.

Auditor General Nancy Gathungu, in her 2023-24 audit, disclosed that all 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 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 travelled to warrant the payment of the allowance,” Gathungu reveals.

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

Mile - age allowances for many MPs, espe - cially those from far-flung constitu - encies, can almost double their gross salary.

As if that is not enough, each of the 416 will also be paid Sh356,525 per month to maintain their vehicles over and above the mileage allowance.

“Car maintenance allowance shall be paid to a Member of Parliament at the rate of Sh356,525 per month as set and published in the gazette notice 10347 dated August 9, 2023,” the letter reads.

All the other benefits have been retained, as reiterated in the July 2024 gazette notice by the SRC, which stayed the salary raise for public officers.

This implies that the SRC has rejected the MPs’ push for sitting allowance while in the plenary.

“This letter supersedes any other review and setting of mileage allow - ance and claimable allowance for member of parliament,” SRC said.

Parliament wrote to SRC and held a consultative meeting with the new SRC team in late February, after which its request for the additional perks was approved.

Besides these allowances, ordinary MPs earn a gross salary of Sh725,502 monthly.

MPs get a 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.

The chairperson of a committee earns Sh15,000 per sitting up to a monthly maximum of Sh240,000; The vice chairperson takes home Sh12,000 per sitting up to a monthly maximum of Sh192,000.

This is besides a medical benefit which comprises an inpatient cover of Sh10 million and Sh300,000 for outpatient. 

They also enjoy maternity cover of Sh150,000, Sh100,000 for dental and a similar amount for optical. The annual medical package covers the member, one spouse and up to five children below the age of 25.

Members of the Senate and National Assembly whose duties require more parliamentary leadership above what is specified in their terms of service and for which they get a regular salary may receive up to Sh150,000 per month in Special Parliamentary Duty Allowance.

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 a Sh15,000 airtime allowance. They are also provided with security personnel paid for by the taxpayers.

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