MCAs have given the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) one week to revise proposed changes to their salaries, lest they down their tools.
The development comes after SRC, in a circular on Wednesday, communicated that MCAs will from next month take home Ksh.154,481 up from Ksh.144,375.
The pay increment, which will be instituted in two phases, will also see the salaries of County Assembly speakers increased to Ksh.562,312 from Ksh.525,525 in this financial year but the amount will rise to Ksh.601,674 in the 2024/25 financial year
Deputy Speakers will from July take home Ksh.231,722 from Ksh.216,563 with the figure expected to rise to Ksh.247,943 in the 2024/25 financial year while majority and minority leaders will make Ksh.191,324 from July and Ksh.204,717 per month in the next financial year.
MCAs are against the proposed pay hike on grounds that it is unfair largely because county speakers, deputy speakers, majority and minority leaders are principally MCAs.
According to Philemon Sabulei, the Chair of the County Assemblies Forum and Elgeyo Marakwet MCA, all 47 county assemblies will adjourn until SRC revises the pay increment.
“County Assemblies were not involved in the salary review. It’s null and void. SRC must consider welfare of county assemblies. County Assemblies will shut down if our demands are not met including stopping passage of budgets. We are giving them a week to respond ..we have 23 so far who have shut down,” Sabulei said on Saturday during a meeting of County assembly leaders.
Makueni County Assembly Speaker added that remuneration should start with members of County Assemblies and not speakers.