- The SG said CRA can adjust and give the MCAs good salaries to do their work.
- This is after Mandera MCAs threatened to go on strike over the move by SRC to increase their pay by Sh10,000.
Image: FILE
UDA secretary general Cleophas Malala has defended Members of the County Assembly over their call for salary increase.
Malala said MCAs should be given a decent salary to motivate them in their work.
"If we want the MCAs to do their oversight work well and represent Kenyans, MCAs should be added salaries," he said.
The MCAs had threatened to go on strike over the move by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission to increase their pay by Sh10,000.
The MCA's gross salaries were increased from Sh144,375 to Sh154,481 starting in July.
The MCAs claimed the Sh10,000 salary increase was little.
Majority and minority leaders had their gross pay increased from Sh144,375 to Sh191,324 in the next financial year and Sh204,717 in the subsequent year.
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 payment will go up to Sh226,988 in case a member sits in only one committee.
However, most MCAs sit in at least two committees.
They will also enjoy a committee sitting allowance of Sh62,400 for one committee per month.
Malala said MCAs should not shut down county assemblies because they will paralyse services.
"The resources we have are not enough but we exist within limited resources. We can adjust their budgets. The Commission for Revenue Allocation should look into the budget ceilings of the county assemblies," he said.
The SG said CRA should adjust and give the MCAs good salaries to do their work.
He said they can sit down and engage in conversation to sort out their grievances amicably.
The SG said that they have engaged the Salaries and Renemuration Commission and governors to discuss the matter.
"I want to ask the MCAs who have shut down their counties when they come to the negotiating table they should come with clean hands and not demands," he said.
On June 22, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua told off MCAs over their please, saying the government has no money, and the MCAs should be content with what they have.
"You cannot vie for a seat knowing the salary and ask for a raise after you are elected. We do not have money. You can put sufurias on your head and throw other tantrums but we do not have money to give you," he said.