How greedy MPs plan to fleece the taxpayer

By Newsflash Reporter

Starting Tuesday, April 1, 2025, Members of Parliament (MPs) will receive a salary increment of Sh366,011, further burdening taxpayers at a time when the country faces economic hardship.

This increase will be reflected as a fixed monthly mileage allowance, in addition to the travel reimbursement claims MPs already receive based on the distance from Nairobi to their constituencies.

With 29 months remaining before the August 2027 General Election, taxpayers will bear an additional Sh4.4 billion cost to cater to the 416 MPs in the National Assembly and Senate.

This increase comes on top of the current Sh739,600 gross salary per MP, as set by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) in its gazette notices of July 27, 2022, and August 9, 2023.

SRC approval and rejection of additional benefits

SRC Secretary and CEO, Dr. Anne Gitau, in a letter to the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) Secretary and Clerk of the Senate, Jeremiah Nyegenye, confirmed that the decision was made during an SRC meeting on March 20, 2025.

“In this regard, SRC has reviewed and hereby sets car maintenance allowance and mileage allowance for Members of Parliament,” stated Dr Gitau in her letter.

However, SRC declined MPs’ requests for a plenary sitting allowance and a post-retirement medical cover. The commission firmly reiterated that any remuneration and benefits not included in its gazette notices remain non-payable unless formally approved.

Breakdown of new Mileage Allowance

The fixed mileage allowance will cost taxpayers Sh152.3 million per month and Sh1.83 billion annually. Under the revised structure, MPs whose constituencies or counties are beyond 205 kilometers from Parliament Buildings in Nairobi will also receive mileage claims for a single return journey per week at a rate of Sh152.6 per kilometer.

Previously, only National Assembly members benefited from mileage reimbursement. The earlier arrangement had two bands:

Band 1: Covered MPs with constituencies within 350 kilometers of Nairobi, allowing them to claim up to 700 kilometers per week at Sh152.6 per kilometer, totaling approximately Sh462,887 per MP.
Band 2: Applied to MPs with constituencies beyond 351 kilometers, reimbursed for actual distances covered at the same rate.

With the new structure, senators will also be eligible for mileage claims whenever they travel to their counties for oversight duties.

Impact on public sector and economic concerns

The pay hike is expected to trigger demands for salary increases across other public service sectors, including Members of County Assemblies (MCAs). This comes at a time when the government struggles to fund essential sectors like healthcare and education. Public secondary schools, universities, and colleges have faced delays in capitation funds, while private and mission hospitals have suspended services to patients covered under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) due to unpaid government debts amounting to over Sh30 billion.

Despite these financial challenges, the SRC has retained other benefits for MPs, including a car maintenance allowance of Sh356,525 per month, as outlined in its August 9, 2023, gazette notice.

MPs’ extensive perks beyond salary

Beyond their salaries, MPs enjoy various allowances and benefits, including:

Committee sitting allowances:
- Chairpersons: Sh15,000 per sitting, capped at Sh240,000 per month.
- Vice chairpersons: Sh12,000 per sitting, up to Sh192,000 monthly.
- Ordinary members: Sh7,500 per sitting, with a maximum of Sh120,000 per month.
Special parliamentary duty allowance:
- Up to Sh150,000 per month for MPs with additional leadership roles, such as majority and minority leaders and whips.
Car grant: Sh7.6 million, awarded once per parliamentary term.
Car loan: Up to Sh8 million.
Mortgage facility: Up to Sh35 million, with a subsidized 3% interest rate.
Medical cover:
- Inpatient: Sh10 million.
- Outpatient: Sh300,000.
- Maternity: Sh150,000.
- Dental: Sh100,000.
- Optical: Sh100,000.
- MPs’ spouses and up to five children (under 25 years) are covered.
Retirement and insurance benefits:
- Group life insurance equivalent to three times annual pensionable earnings.
- Group personal accident (GPA) cover at the same rate.
Daily subsistence allowances (DSA) for both local and foreign travel, set and reviewed periodically by SRC.
Airtime allowance: Sh15,000 per month.

Past tensions between MPs and SRC

The relationship between MPs and SRC has been strained in recent years, particularly over remuneration issues. The National Assembly delayed approving SRC commissioners following their nomination by President William Ruto to replace the Lyn Mengich-led team, which had completed its term.

On November 26, 2024, the National Assembly’s Labour Committee recommended the approval of SRC nominees. However, on December 11, 2024, Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah moved to extend the approval timeline, citing unresolved issues. It was not until January 16, 2025, that Parliament finally endorsed the nominees, paving the way for SRC’s new leadership.

Public backlash and concerns over fiscal sustainability

The SRC is mandated by Article 230(5) of the Constitution to ensure that public wages are fiscally sustainable, fair, and performance-driven. However, MPs’ increasing demands for higher pay and allowances have drawn public criticism, particularly given the country’s ongoing economic struggles.

Many Kenyans question the justification for raising MPs’ earnings while essential services like healthcare and education remain underfunded. The rising public wage bill remains a critical concern, with fears that unchecked increments in legislators’ salaries and benefits could strain the economy further.

As the new salary structure takes effect, it remains to be seen how the government will balance political appeasement with the broader national economic priorities.