High-flying MCAs have had their wings clipped. Instead of the Sh37 million they wanted for domestic travel, they're only getting Sh20 million.
The comparison and breakdown on international travel was not discussed.
The county assembly reduced its allocation for domestic travel, subsistence and other transportation costs by Sh17 million for the next financial year starting July 1. The County Fiscal Strategy Paper had proposed Sh37 million.
Travel was highlighted during the June 24 budget reading for the FY 2021-22 in which Sh3.1 billion was allocated for assembly operations.
Early this month, national Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o said MCAs are pocketing millions in sitting allowances, some exceeding the cap set by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.
Nairobi, Meru, Kajiado, Machakos, Siaya, Bungoma and Tana River were listed as the biggest spenders on travel and per diem allowances.
The budget implementation review report for the 47 counties for the nine months of the current financial year 2020-21 said counties were spending millions of shillings on non-essentials, such as travel.
The Nairobi government and assembly spent Sh297.7 million on travel despite the tough economic times caused by Covid-19.
“Despite protocols to contain the spread of Covid-19, the Office of the Controller of Budget noted high expenditure on local travel and subsistence,” the report reads.
The situation was no different in 2019-20 when the county government spent Sh387.2 million on international and domestic trips in the first half of the year.
Of that amount, former Governor Mike Sonko’s administration spent Sh281.47 million, while the county assembly used Sh105.7 million.
Nyakang’o highlighted that the money spent on domestic travel was Sh337.9 million. Of that amount, the executive spent Sh232.39 million, while MCAs spent Sh105.5 million.
On international flights, Sh49.33 million was spent during the period. The executive spent Sh49.08 million and MCAs Sh250,000.
In 2018-19, the national government acknowledged that travel expenses were the main avenue of pilferage of public funds by legislators.
Data from the Nairobi Treasury revealed that in 2016-17, MCAs spent Sh162 million on international travel while the county executive spent Sh267 million.
In an attempt to reduce wastage of funds, the Ministry of Devolution introduced measures that required MCAs in all the 47 counties to get approvals ahead of foreign travel.
Consequently, the Nairobi county assembly suspended international trips from October 2018 to February 2019, citing a budget deficit.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
