Report Ranks Counties Paying the Highest Sitting Allowances to MCAs & By How Much

A report by the Controller of Budget, Margaret Nyakan'go, has revealed that Members of County Assemblies earned an average of Ksh58,808 in sitting allowance per month in the 2025/2025 Financial Year.

In the report, Tharaka Nithi MCAs were the top earners as they took home Ksh108,333 per month in sitting allowance.

The second top earners were Busia MCAs, who took home Ksh99,456 per month in the 2024/2025 Financial Year.

Baringo MCAs took home Ksh93,438 per month, while Tana River MCAs took home Ksh92,128 per month.

The counties where the ward representatives earned between Ksh80,000 and Ksh90,000 were Kisumu (Ksh87,744), Samburu (Ksh85,964), Kericho (Ksh82,347), and Embu (Ksh82,267).

Other counties with top sitting allowances were Nyamira (Ksh76,805), Kisii (Ksh76,292), Lamu (Ksh75,703), West Pokot (Ksh75,464), Meru (Ksh72,270), Makueni (Ksh72,255), Kiambu (Ksh70,225), and Uasin Gishu (Ksh72,071).

Homa Bay (69,526), Elgeyo Marakwet (Ksh68,888), Vihiga (Ksh68,801), Kakamega (Ksh68,039), Narok (Ksh67,689), Murang'a (Ksh67,597), Kirinyaga (Ksh66,134), Bomet (Ksh66,116), Marsabit (Ksh61,589), Nyandarua (60,995), and Taita Taveta (Ksh60,517).

Other MCAs earning above Ksh50,000 were Siaya (Ksh59,018), Trans Nzoia (Ksh58,556), Kwale (Ksh58,311), Mombasa (Ksh53,272), Wajir (Ksh57,455), and Nandi (Ksh50,844).

In Machakos County, MCAs earned Ksh49,086 per month in sitting allowance, as Nakuru MCAs took home Ksh48,921. Migori ward reps earned Ksh42,048 per month.

Other counties were Kajiado (Ksh39,038), Nyeri (Ksh36,508), Bungoma (Ksh36,484), Kilifi (Ksh36,448), Isiolo (Ksh35,753), Garissa (Ksh35,416), Laikipia (Ksh30,732), and Nairobi (Ksh30,703).

Counties where MCAs earned less than Ksh30,000 per month were Kitui (Ksh20,365) and Turkana (Ksh18,872),

Mandera MCAs were the lowest earners, taking home Ksh17,823 per month in sitting allowances.

"The County Assemblies spent Ksh1.57 billion on MCA’s sitting allowances against an approved budget allocation of Ksh1.80 billion during the reporting period. This expenditure accounts for 87% of the approved MCA sitting allowance budget, an increase from 86% in FY 2023/24, when the County Assemblies spent Ksh1.59 billion on sitting allowances

"Sixteen County Assemblies, including Bungoma, Embu, Homa Bay, and Kajiado, absorbed 100% of their sitting allowances budget," read the report in part.

Here is the list of the allowances from the highest to the lowest‍

1. Tharaka Nithi: Ksh108,333
2. Busia: Ksh99,456
3. Baringo: Ksh93,438
4. Tana River: Ksh92,128
5. Kisumu: Ksh87,744
6. Samburu: Ksh85,964
7. Kericho: Ksh82,347
8. Embu: Ksh82,267
9. Nyamira: Ksh76,805
10. Kisii: Ksh76,292
11. Lamu: Ksh75,703
12. West Pokot: Ksh75,464
13. Meru: Ksh72,270
14. Makueni: Ksh72,255
15. Uasin Gishu: Ksh72,071
16. Kiambu: Ksh70,225
17. Homa Bay: Ksh69,526
18. Elgeyo Marakwet: Ksh68,888
19. Vihiga: Ksh68,801
20. Kakamega: Ksh68,039
21. Narok: Ksh67,689
22. Murang'a: Ksh67,597
23. Kirinyaga: Ksh66,134
24. Bomet: Ksh66,116
25. Marsabit: Ksh61,589
26. Nyandarua: Ksh60,995
27. Taita Taveta: Ksh60,517
28. Siaya: Ksh59,018
29. Trans Nzoia: Ksh58,556
30. Kwale: Ksh58,311
31. Wajir: Ksh57,455
32. Mombasa: Ksh53,272
33. Nandi: Ksh50,844
34. Machakos: Ksh49,086
35. Nakuru: Ksh48,921
36. Migori: Ksh42,048
37. Kajiado: Ksh39,038
38. Nyeri: Ksh36,508
39. Bungoma: Ksh36,484
40. Kilifi: Ksh36,448
41. Isiolo: Ksh35,753
42. Garissa: Ksh35,416
43. Laikipia: Ksh30,732
44. Nairobi: Ksh30,703
45. Kitui: Ksh20,365
46. Turkana: Ksh18,872
47. Mandera: Ksh17,823