Nairobi MCAs are struggling to exercise their oversight role amid financial dependence on the county executive, Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai has claimed, citing delayed salaries and limited recourse for legislators.
Speaking on Radio Generation on Monday, Alai said the situation makes it difficult for MCAs to effectively scrutinise governors because the legislators rely on county administrations for their finances.
He argued that the arrangement gives governors too much influence over county assemblies, leaving MCAs with little power when financial issues arise.
“The assemblies look like, you know, the rubber stamp of what the governor is doing. The governor is very powerful, but the assemblies can do nothing because even my salary is to be signed by the governor,” Alai said.
Alai claimed Nairobi County MCAs had not received their salaries for two months, saying payments for July and August were still outstanding.
“Today, July and August, we have not gotten our salaries. What is the reason? Sakaja will tell you many things, but what will you do? There is no power. There is no recourse,” he said.
He said delayed salaries and financial dependence can affect the independence of county assemblies, especially when MCAs are required to question decisions and spending by governors and their administrations.
Alai also raised concerns about the amount some MCAs are left with after deductions, saying loans and other financial obligations can reduce their take-home pay considerably.
“In counties, you find that by the end, like you earn probably you're given Sh82,000 gross. By the end of that deduction, you'll end up with around 40 something,” he claimed.
He said some MCAs face greater financial pressure because they come from poor backgrounds and may not have other sources of income to fall back on.
“Some of the MCAs come from the slum areas; they don't have a physical abode. You find that they cannot afford those loans,” he said.
According to Alai, such financial pressure can also create room for some MCAs to enter into arrangements with governors, potentially affecting their ability to carry out their oversight duties independently.
“Some of them get into deals with governors, and it becomes now you're feeding corruption. You're not serving the people,” he said.
Alai further questioned whether Nairobi City County Assembly has enough resources to effectively perform its duties, given the size of the institution.
He said the assembly has 124 members and more than 1,000 employees, raising concerns about whether it receives adequate funding to support its operations.
“How effective are you going to do your functions?” he asked.
The Constitution gives the Salaries and Remuneration Commission the power under Article 230(4)(a) to “set and regularly review” the remuneration and benefits of all State officers.
Article 230(4)(b) also requires the commission to advise the national and county governments on the remuneration and benefits of other public officers.
The County Governments Act establishes a County Assembly Service Board, which is responsible for county assembly services, including preparing expenditure estimates and exercising budgetary control over the service.
The legal framework therefore gives the SRC responsibility for setting and reviewing MCA remuneration, while the County Assembly Service Board handles key administrative and financial functions relating to county assembly services.