Uasin Gishu county assembly shuts down activities

Eldoret, Wednesday June 21 2023,

KNA by Kiptanui Cherono

The reading of the 2023/2024 budget policy statement for Uasin Gishu County failed to take place after the county assembly adjourned its sittings sine die.

The county assembly joined other 24 County assemblies across the country to shut down without debating the crucial County Finance Bill, 2023.

The adjournment motion was presented by the leader of the Majority Mr. Julius Sang and seconded by the leader of the minority Mr. Francis Muya.

“The move to adjourn indefinitely is hereby as a result of a resolution arrived at by the County Assemblies Forum (CAF) held in Nairobi that the Salaries and Remuneration Commission must revisit the Sh10,000 pay increase to the members of county assemblies, (MCAs) which is a mockery to the position they hold and the duties bestowed upon them,” said the leader of the minority.

Uasin Gishu county assembly speaker Mr. Philip Muigei said the county assembly will remain adjourned until the salaries and remuneration commission, SRC resolves the thorny issue of members of the county assemblies' remuneration and benefits.

He said the decision by SRC to increase MCAs salaries by a mere Sh10,000 angered MCAs whose salaries have not been adjusted for the last eight to 10 years.

“The decision of SRC to increase salaries of MCAs by Sh10,000 is the joke of the year, MCAs are the first line of leaders from the grassroots and are involved in day-to-day activities in the wards, the assembly will remain adjourned until SRC increase the amount of MCA salaries to a suitable level,” said the speaker.

“CAF had proposed that the salaries of MCAs be pegged at 49 per cent to that of Governors the same way MP salaries are pegged at 49 per cent of the President's salary,” he added.

The ward representatives questioned the rationale behind SRC awarding them a salary of close to Sh86,000 against colossal amounts of money earned by the Governor, the county executive committee members, and chief officers ranging between Sh500,000 -Sh1,000,000 demanding the correct job placement from the current job group M attracting the current salaries.

“SRC is the greatest threat to devolution, it has deliberately overlooked the important oversight role played by the MCAs, therefore must adjourn until SRC engages CAF properly,” muigei said. 

The current remuneration for MCAs stands at Sh144,375 a month with a committee sitting allowance of Sh62,400.

In the 2023/2024 Financial Year, the SRC proposed gross salaries for MCAs to go up to Sh154,481 with the sitting allowance remaining the same. The 2024/2025 financial year salaries will see another upward review to Sh164,588.

The other counties that have shut down are Narok, Mandera, Kericho, Embu, Tana River, Kisii, and Marsabit.

The others are Makueni, Wajir, Garissa, Mombasa, Kwale, Nakuru, Kajiado, Nyamira, Laikipia, West Pokot and Samburu.

Courtesy ; K. N. A