NAIROBI, Kenya – County Assembly Members (MCAs) could see a reduction in their earnings if a new proposal by the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) to limit the number of assembly committees is adopted.
In a report submitted to the Senate, the commission warned that the unchecked growth of committees across counties is driving up administrative costs, largely through sitting allowances paid to MCAs for attending meetings.
According to CRA, some county assemblies operate as many as 27 committees, allowing MCAs to sit on multiple panels and earn additional income, even where committee mandates overlap.
Other counties run as few as nine committees, highlighting wide disparities in structure across the 47 devolved units.
“CRA’s analysis showed wide variations in the number of committees, ranging from nine to 27, with no standardised structure across counties,” the commission said in the report.
The commission raised concerns that several committees handle internal matters such as welfare, catering and loans—functions it says either duplicate existing roles or add little value while inflating administrative expenses.
CRA further noted that inconsistent committee naming and weak alignment with county executive departments undermine effective oversight and accountability, key roles of county assemblies under the devolved system.
To address these gaps, the commission has proposed capping the number of committees in each county assembly at 18, while allowing counties to operate fewer committees depending on their size and functional needs.
“In addition, committees should be aligned to the county executive departments they oversee to strengthen accountability and reduce duplication,” CRA said.
If implemented, the proposal would directly affect MCAs’ take-home pay. Currently, each MCA earns Sh3,000 per sitting for committee meetings attended, making committee assignments a significant source of supplementary income.
The County Assemblies Forum (CAF) has welcomed the debate but cautioned against a one-size-fits-all approach.
CAF Secretary General Mwaura Chege said assemblies are open to reorganising their committees but stressed the need to consider local realities.
“The confusion needs to be sorted out by the executives. Assemblies form committees based on the number of departments they are supposed to oversee,” Mwaura said.
The proposal now awaits further consideration by the Senate amid broader debates on rising county expenditure and the need to rein in non-essential costs.
