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.
