By Njoroge David
A court in Nyeri has upheld the Salaries and Remuneration Commission’s (SRC) decision to scrap retreat, internal committee and taskforce allowances for Members of County Assemblies (MCAs), saying they amounted to double compensation on gross pay.
Justice Onesmus Makau of the Employment and Labour Relations Court dismissed a petition by the County Assembly of Embu that claimed MCAs were demoted from job grade D5 to D4, reducing pay and benefits.
“The petitioners failed to provide evidence that MCAs were ever elevated to job grade D5,” said Makau.
“The County Assemblies Forum welcomed the grading in all its correspondences and MCAs did not suffer any loss or violation due to SRC’s advice,” he added.
SRC said it scrapped the allowances after reviewing state officers’ roles, responsibilities and remuneration, noting that core duties of MCAs, including plenary sessions, were already covered under gross pay.
The court also dismissed claims that SRC failed to approve non‑practising allowances for professionals in the county assembly public service.
