City MPs want upcountry mileage perks scrapped
MPs from Nairobi and parts of Kiambu counties who do not receive mileage reimbursement have petitioned the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to scrap the perks.
The representatives led by Steven Kariuki (Mathare), Francis Waititu (Juja) and Humprey Njuguna (Gatanga) tabled a list of 20 constituencies they claim draw huge mileage allowances that run between Sh1.2 million and Sh2.4 million per month.
They said a majority of MPs who draw weekly mileage allowances of between Sh400,000 and Sh800,000 have been making false claims even when they do not travel to their respective constituencies.
“We wish to bring to your attention as the SRC ….that the mileage claims system is prone to abuse as members don’t have to prove that they travelled to their local constituencies for reimbursement to be done,” they said in a letter to Ms Sarah Serem, the SRC chairperson.
“We propose that instead of mileage, air tickets should be bought for members who wish to travel to their constituencies as this would be cheaper.”
Nairobi MPs are not entitled to the claim while Kiambu legislators received the least because their constituencies neighbour the city.
They gave an example of Mandera East with 2,300 kilometres return whose MP claims Sh430, 100 per week when calculated at the Automobiles Association (AA) rates of Sh187.
At number 20 in the list is Bomet East constituency with a total of 546 kilometres. The weekly mileage translates to Sh102,102 per month.
“Per month, the MP who claims Sh430,100 weekly will take home Sh2.4 million per month. We can’t allow this amount which we consider obscene and immoral,” said Benson Mutura, the Makadara MP.
