Kenyan Members of Parliament are now set to earn more than Sh1.45 million every month, with new allowances added on top of what they were already receiving. From April 1st, 2025, each MP will get an additional Sh366,000 as a mileage allowance, pushing their total monthly earnings to around Sh1.71 million.
This includes a gross salary of Sh725,500, the new mileage allowance, and a car maintenance allowance of Sh356,525. On top of that, there are other benefits such as motor vehicle reimbursement of up to Sh7.5 million, committee sitting allowances ranging between Sh120,000 and Sh240,000 depending on whether the MP is a member or a chairperson, and a Sh150,000 special duty allowance for those in leadership roles. When calculated annually, each MP is expected to pocket about Sh20.5 million.
With 416 MPs in total, this translates to a yearly public wage bill of Sh8.53 billion. This is a massive burden for a country where the average Kenyan earns only around Sh260,000 per year. In simple terms, each MP is now earning 79 times more than the average citizen.
This gap continues to widen the inequality in a country where many people still live hand-to-mouth and struggle to afford basic needs like food, shelter, and healthcare.
Many Kenyans are now asking whether this high pay is fair or justified. MPs are elected to represent the people, make laws, and oversee government operations. But in reality, a number of them are known for missing parliamentary sessions and failing to deliver proper services at the constituency level.
The misuse and mismanagement of Constituency Development Funds have become too common, with stalled or non-existent projects reported across the country.
At the same time, most parts of Kenya still suffer from poor infrastructure, overcrowded schools, lack of clean water, and under-equipped hospitals. It is therefore shocking that such large sums of money are being spent to reward MPs who often underperform.
This raises an important question, shouldn’t public money be used where it is needed most?A better and more reasonable salary for MPs would be around Sh500,000 per month. This still adds up to Sh6 million a year per MP, which is respectable pay for a public servant.
Across all MPs, this would bring the total wage bill to about Sh2.5 billion per year. That would save the country over Sh6 billion annually money that could be used to build new schools, drill boreholes, improve health centers, or support job creation for the youth. Public service should not be a way to get rich. It should be a calling to serve and improve the lives of ordinary citizens.
In a country where millions are struggling to make ends meet, trimming these bloated salaries is not punishment. It is justice. And more importantly, it is long overdue.
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