MPs, Senators to pocket millions in car maintenance, mileage

Parliament during a past session. [File, Standard] MPs and Senators are set to pocket Sh356,525 as car maintenance and a further Sh366,011 mileage allowance monthly. This means that each MP will pocket ShSh4.3 million per year in car maintenance and Sh4.4 million in mileage allowances, totaling to Sh8.7 million per year. The Sh8.7 million multiplied by 417 legislatures will cost the taxpayer a total of Sh3.6 billion per year. According to a letter obtained by The Standard, legislators will pocket the perks beginning April 1, 2025 following a series of meetings between Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC). In the new advisory addressed to Jeremiah Nyegenye, Clerk of the Senate and Secretary to the PSC, the 349 MPs and 68 Senators will each pocket Sh356,525 per month as car maintenance. They will also take home Sh366,011 mileage allowance per month, according to gazette notice 10347 dated August 2023. "Reference is made to your letters Ref: PSC/SEC/CORR/2025/007 dated February 20, 2025 and Ref: PSC/SEC/CIRR/2025/008 dated February 24, 2025, " reads the letter signed by its Commission Secretary and chief executive officer Anne Gitau. "Further reference is made to the consultative meeting between the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) & Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) held on February 20, 2025." "SRC, during its 609th meeting held on March 20, 2025, deliberated on your request taking into account the principles outlined in Article 230(5) of the Constitution. In this regard, SRC has reviewed and hereby sets Car Maintenance Allowance and Mileage Allowance for Members of Parliament as follows." The advisory states that Members of Parliament whose constituency or county is beyond a radius of 205 km from Parliament (Nairobi) shall be paid a claimable mileage allowance of one return journey per week from Parliament (Nairobi) to the respective constituency or county. This will be at the rate of Sh152.6 in fuel per kilometer, for the additional actual distance covered over and above the 205 km. On mileage allowance, the August 2023 advisory sets reimbursable monthly mileage claim of up to a maximum of Sh462,887 in zone one, which covers 0 to 350kms from National Assembly( Nairobi) to constituency and 700 as a maximum return journey per week at a rate of Sh152.6 in fuel per km for 52 weeks. On zone two, which is 351kms and above, maximum pay per return journey per week in kms and total reimbursable monthly mileage claim will be based on actual distance. The advisory says that all other remuneration and benefits for State Officers in the Senate and the National Assembly are retained as set and published in the gazette notice No. 10347 dated August 9, 2023 as read together with gazette notice no. 9061 dated July 19, 2024. The August 9, 2023 notice says under special parliamentary duty allowance: "Shall be paid up to a maximum of Sh150,000 per month to State Officers in the Senate and National Assembly, whose duties involve added parliamentary leadership over and above the duties stipulated in one's terms of service for which a regular salary is paid." "Note: The Parliamentary Service Commission shall apportion the rate of Special Parliamentary Duty Allowance, up to a maximum of Sh150,000 per month, to each of the designated State Officers with leadership duties in Parliament, based on seniority as provided by the Constitution, Legislation or Standing Orders." The SRC advisory to the clerk concludes by saying: "This letter supersedes any other review and setting of mileage allowance and claimable mileage allowance for members of parliament." Notably, the allowances advisory comes amid calls for austerity measures by the Kenya Kwanza government to reduce the ballooning wagebill and direct the money to other pressing needs like health, education and other development projects.

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