- Majority and Minority leaders will have their gross pay increased from Sh144,375 to Sh191,324 in the next financial year.
- The are 2,232 MCAs across the 47 county assemblies of which 1450 are elected and 782 nominated.
Image: FILE
The Salaries and Remuneration Commission has yielded to pressure and increased the pay for MCAs and county assembly speakers.
The move comes days after MCAs, who assembled in Nairobi for their inaugural conference, resolved to strike until their salaries and allowances are increased.
In the commission's latest salaries review for state and public officers, SRC has enhanced the MCAs gross monthly pay from Sh144,375 to Sh154,481, starting July.
In the review that will be implemented in two phases, MCA will pocket a gross pay of Sh164,588 in the 2024-25 financial year.
Majority and Minority leaders will have their gross pay increased from Sh144,375 to Sh191,324 in the next financial year and Sh204,717 in the subsequent year.
They will also enjoy a committee sitting allowance of Sh62,400 for one committee per a month.
This means that an MCA who sits in only one committee will be paid a gross salary of Sh216,881 from next month from the current Sh206,775.
From July 2024, the pay will go up to Sh226,988 in case a member sits in only one committee.
However, most MCAs sit in at least two committees.
The details are contained in the SRC's presentation to County Assembly Service Boards on the 3rd public service remuneration and benefits review cycle for 2021-22/2024-25.
SRC had previously slashed the pay for MCAs from Sh165,000 as it moved to cut the public wage bill.
There are 2,232 MCAs. Of this number, 1,450 are elected and 782 nominated.
In the proposed gross remuneration, a county assembly speaker will have their gross pay increase from the current Sh525,525 to Sh562,312 from July 1.
The pay will move up to a gross of Sh601,674 in the 2024-25 financial year, when the last phase will be implemented.
Deputy speakers pay will rise from the current Sh216,563 to Sh231,722 in the next financial year. It will then increase to Sh247,943 in 2024-25.
This gross pay will, however, exclude the committee sitting allowance which has been capped at Sh62,400 for one committee per a month.
This means that if a deputy speaker sits in at least two committees then they will pocket a gross monthly pay of Sh356,522 from July 1.
The amount will rise to Sh372,743 in 2024-25.
MCAs have been agitating for a pay rise saying they earn peanuts.
They are pushing for a pay rise among other emoluments, such as the reinstatement of a Sh2 million car grant and sitting and mileage allowances that SRC abolished.
During a meeting in Nairobi last month, MCAs resolved that SRC should increase their pay to 27 per cent and not 16 of the governors' salary.
Had SRC okayed the demand, then each MCA would walk home with a gross pay of Sh397,320.
They are also seeking a ward development fund and an affirmative action fund for nominated MCAs.
They also want the 30 per cent tax levied on their car reimbursement fund scrapped.
Some assemblies had threatened to shut down unless SRC hikes their pay.
Those that adjourned indefinitely over the pay row include Narok, Mandera, Kericho, Tana River, Embu, Kisii, Marsabit, Makueni, Wajir, Garissa, Laikipia, Kajiado, Samburu, Nyamira, West Pokot, Mombasa and Kwale.