Kenya’s Auditor General, Nancy Gathungu, has flagged irregular allowance payments totaling more than Sh600 million to Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) in 17 counties, citing weak internal controls and violations of Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) rules.
In her report for the financial year ending June 30, 2025, Gathungu detailed widespread problems with mileage, sitting, travel, and special allowances. Many payments lacked supporting documentation or breached SRC guidelines.
The affected counties include Garissa, Isiolo, Wajir, Tana River, Mandera, Samburu, Laikipia, Narok, Vihiga, Uasin Gishu, Kiambu, Murang’a, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Nairobi.
Breakdown of key findings by county:
- Garissa: Sixteen nominated MCAs received Sh28.3 million in mileage allowances, each consistently claiming the maximum monthly reimbursement of Sh147,481. Auditors noted the assembly failed to justify the payments. An additional Sh2.5 million was paid to two officers for workshops and travel with no supporting records.
- Isiolo: MCAs were paid Sh5.7 million in per diem allowances for a four-day end-of-year party held about 10 kilometers from the assembly offices, despite SRC rules prohibiting subsistence payments within a 50-kilometer radius of a duty station. Attendance records for the event were also missing. The assembly further spent Sh6.4 million on retreats in Meru and Nanyuki without evidence the meetings actually took place.
- Wajir: Overpayment of Sh52.2 million in mileage claims occurred due to inflated distances and use of a higher reimbursement rate than the SRC had approved.
- Tana River: MCAs received Sh23.4 million in sitting allowance arrears not supported by attendance registers or Hansard reports.
- Mandera: A total of Sh2 million was paid in travel and subsistence allowances with no proof linking the payments to official duties.
- Laikipia: One of the highest questioned amounts—Sh62 million—was flagged for sitting, mileage, and committee allowances. Of this, Sh30.1 million lacked meeting notices, minutes, and attendance records. The assembly also paid Sh6.8 million in salary arrears allowances without documentation. Separately, the Speaker continued to receive a house allowance despite occupying an official residence.
- Narok: MCAs received Sh2.5 million in transport allowances that had not obtained SRC approval.
- Kiambu: Two board members were paid Sh3.2 million despite not attending any meetings.
- Elgeyo Marakwet: Auditors could not account for Sh134.6 million paid under personal allowances.
- Nairobi: The county assembly failed to account for Sh303.7 million spent on impairment allowances.
In a separate finding, Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o reported that MCAs nationwide earned Sh772.7 million in sitting allowances between July and December 2025, representing 37 percent of the Sh2.07 billion annual allocation for that category.
The reports have raised fresh concerns about spending priorities within county governments and the continued rise in recurrent expenditure, particularly in assembly operations.
