Japhet Ruto, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, offers over eight years of experience in finance, business, and technology, providing in-depth analysis and insights into economic trends in Kenya and beyond.

Beginning Tuesday, April 1, 2025, all Kenyan Members of Parliament (MPs) will receive a pay raise of KSh 366,011.

This is yet another pay hike for lawmakers who have a history of manipulating the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to boost their benefits while the majority of Kenyans live in poverty.

In addition to travel reimbursement claims that the lawmakers submit based on the distance between their rural constituencies and the capital Nairobi, the pay rise will reflect on the MPs' pay slips as a fixed monthly mileage allowance.

According to Daily Nation, the 416 MPs in the National Assembly and Senate will cost taxpayers KSh 4.4 billion for the 29 months leading up to the general election in August 2027.

Each month, the MPs receive a lump sum payment for their allowances and reimbursement claims, in addition to the KSh 739,600 gross salary that SRC set in the July 27, 2022, and August 9, 2023, gazette notices.

In a letter to PSC secretary and Senate clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye, SRC secretary and CEO Anne Gitau states that the pay rise was approved at the SRC meeting on March 20, 2025, following his request.

"SRC has reviewed this matter and has decided to grant Members of Parliament mileage and car maintenance allowances," Gitau stated.

However, the commission cautioned that any remuneration and benefits not specified in its published notifications "are not payable unless subsequently set by SRC".

It therefore declined to grant the MPs a plenary sitting allowance and post-retirement medical coverage.

Kenyan taxpayers would pay KSh 1.83 billion annually, translating to KSh 152.3 million monthly as a result of the new fixed mileage.

According to the new SRC structure, all MPs whose counties or constituencies are more than 205 kilometres from the Parliament buildings in Nairobi will additionally get mileage claims for one weekly return trip at a rate of KSh 152.6 per kilometre.

On the other hand, the government has no plans to raise the pay of civil servants, despite the dire economic conditions.

The Public Service Commission said that the global financial crisis hurt the nation's economy and that this resulted in stagnant salaries for government workers.

This occurred at the same time as the commission determined that the growth in mental health distress cases among public employees was primarily due to economic challenges.

PSC vice chair Mary Kimonye argued that pay raises for civil servants would only be implemented if the Kenya Revenue Authority gets improved revenue collections.

Source: TUKO.co.ke