SRC Approves Car Grant for Ward Representatives

The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) approved a Ksh 4.5 billion car grant for Members of County Assembly (MCAs) and county assemblies’ speakers on 9 February 2021. This ended continued car grant requests by Council of Governors (CoG) since 2013, where affordability was a concern.

While addressing the CoG’s request to convert the existing car loan facility into a car grant, the Commission considered the constitutional principles. First, equity and fairness in that, the same roles of representation and legislation performed by Members of Parliament (MPs), who already enjoy a transportation facilitation benefit, is similarly undertaken at the county level by MCAs.

Second, the Commission considered affordability and fiscal sustainability. The CoG confirmed the availability of Ksh 4.5 billion, and that no additional funds would be required for the conversion.

“The conversion of the car loan facility into a car grant will be undertaken within the available car loan facility funds of Ksh 4.5 billion and will not affect the expenditure ceiling provided by Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA),” observed Lyn Mengich, Chairperson, SRC.

It was, therefore, only fair to extend the same benefit to MCAs and county assemblies’ speakers. Since the Commission is undertaking the Third Public Sector Remuneration Cycle to inform the period 2021/22 – 2024/25, the review will only be available to the current MCAs and county assemblies’ speakers.