MCAs in Nairobi Demanding House Allowances Following High Court Ruling

Nairobi County Assembly members (MCAs) are now demanding to be given house allowances, citing that it is a requirement, following a ruling by the high court.

Through the County Assembly’s leader of majority, and Matopeni MCA, Abdi Hassan, the Members of County Assembly (MCAs) tabled a motion wanting their house allowances affected as soon as possible.

Justice Chacha Mwita had earlier ruled that state officers be entitled to house allowances, which the MCAs feel left out on.

“The High Court ruled that all state officials should have house allowances. Why then are we being locked out yet we too are state officials?” they said.

“The county assembly is a strong part of the County’s administration, and we should be treated as such instead of being discriminated upon,” added Hassan during the motion.

The MCAs have asked the Salary and Remuneration Commission to implement the allowances as of the date of the ruling.

They also noted that there have been differences within state offices concerning remuneration and if this payment of MCAs is not implemented it will be a violation of their rights.

If this motion is passed, the MCAs who earn a basic salary of 123,750 shillings will get around 18,563 shillings, which is 15 percent of their salary, as house allowance.

This motion by the members of the Nairobi assembly comes shortly after their counterparts in Kakamega awarded themselves 45,000 shillings to be paid as house allowance and even backdated it to October 2018.

According to Majority Chief Whip of the Kakamega county assembly, Dickson Ombayo, the executive was already discriminating against the MCAs by not paying their dues as soon as the ruling was made.

“Just like the members of the National Assembly awarded themselves a house allowance of 250,000 shillings after the ruling, we also want our dues paid as we are also state officials. Failure to which we shall dissolve the executive,” said Ombayo.

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