Kiambu County Assembly at a past session. The MCAs have objected to SRC's recommendations to cut their salaries and perks. [Photo: Daily Nation]
Barely a month after being sworn into office, Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) are intending to reject new salaries recommended by the Salaries and Remunerations Commission (SRC).The commission recently scaled down MCAs monthly pay cheques from Sh165,000 and Sh144,375.The ward reps have now approached the umbrella County Assembly Forum (CAF) to take up a legal action against the SRC that would see their salaries and allowances returned."As CAF, we shall be advising on the modalities of engaging the salaries commission," Johnson Osoi, the acting chairman of the forum told The Standard.Osoi, who is also the Kajiado County Assembly Speaker, also said the issue will be one of the agenda expected to be discussed when all the 47 speakers in the country meet in Mombasa on Friday.Uasin Gishu Speaker Daniel Kiplagat revealed they have been under pressure from the MCAs to address the reduction of salaries."The Ward reps have been piling pressure on us to address the issue of their welfare. We hope to seek directions from CAF when we meet in Mombasa," Kiplagat said.There are 2,222 MCAs across all the 47 county assemblies in the country.A section of MPs has also opposed SRC's move to cut their salaries, terming the decision unprocedural.However, President Uhuru Kenyatta has vowed that he will not support the legislators in their quest to demand a higher pay than what is stipulated by the commission.“We're not on the same page. I’ll not endorse any increase even if they want to hate me," he stated recently.The Head of State added: "When they were contesting for the seats, they knew the salaries so they cannot turn around even before they are sworn in and start complaining."