MPs Sh250,000 Monthly House Allowance is Illegal, SRC Declares

The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has protested a move by Members of Parliament to award themselves hefty house allowances.

In a statement to the press, the SRC has termed the MPs' decision to award themselves a house allowance of Sh250,000 per month as illegal and unconstitutional.

The Commission's Chairperson Lyn Mengich insists that only SRC has the powers to determine salaries and benefits for MPs and all other State officers.

“Article 260 of the Constitution categorizes Members of Parliament as State Officers and as such, determination of their remuneration and benefits is the exclusive responsibility of the SRC." 

“Payment of any remuneration and benefits, which have not been set or advised by SRC is in violation of the Constitution,” reads the statement.

SRC says it is currently reviewing the move by MPs before taking appropriate action.

Each of the more than 400 members of the Senate and National Assembly pocketed Sh2.25 million last month as the total amount for the house allowance backdated from August 2018 when their employer, the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) approved the budget.

The payout consumed a staggering Sh936 million of taxpayers cash and adds to the bloated wage bill that the government has been struggling to cut back.