- Governors who have served for two terms may be paid as much as Sh11.1 million in lump sum and a proposed lifetime monthly pension of Sh739,200 if the 47 County Assemblies and the National Assemblies approve a bill fronted by County Assemblies Forum.
The County State Officers Pension Scheme Act, 2021 by the County Assemblies Forum (CAF) is eyeing to pay governors, their deputies, speakers and MCAs with hefty packages after leaving office – in the same way the President, Deputy President, Chief Justice and Speakers of the National Assembly and the Senate are rewarded on retirement.
“The object of the Scheme is to provide benefits for its members upon their retirement, or for their dependants or nominees upon the death of such members. A person who is a governor, deputy governor, county assembly speaker or member of a county assembly on or at any time after the commencement of this Act shall be a member of the Scheme,” reads the proposed law.
“Upon the death of an entitled person…, the surviving spouse of the entitled person shall be entitled to 50 per cent of the pension which was payable to an entitled person,” the Bill adds.
On its part, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) currently recommends a lump sum payment of at least Sh10.3 million for governors, Sh6.9 million for their deputies, Sh2.9 million for speakers and Sh1.6 million for MCAs upon vacating office.
The new Bill also proposes an award of a 3,000cc four-wheel drive car, fuel allowance a personal assistant/secretary, a house keeper, a medical cover for local and overseas treatment and maintenance expenses for the vehicles for governors.
Their deputies will be entitled to additional benefits of at least one car with an engine capacity not exceeding 3,000cc, a driver, a personal assistant and full medical cover for the speaker and their spouse. This package will also be extended to the speakers, their spouses and children.
The new proposals are, however, likely to be resisted by the public. Talking to ‘KhendoFM’ a former MCA speaking on condition of anonymity said ‘while I welcome the proposal, the timing and poor performing economy cannot support the luxury’.