Members of Parliament (MPs) and Senators in Kenya receive attractive salaries, allowances, and benefits designed to support both their official duties and personal welfare.
Beyond their basic pay, lawmakers enjoy car loans, airtime, security, and travel allowances, among other perks.
Article 230(4)(a) of the Constitution of Kenya empowers the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to review and set the remuneration and benefits for all State Officers.
The SRC also conducts periodic reviews of salaries for all state officers. The current salaries and benefits for members of the National Assembly and the Senate are based on the Third Remuneration and Benefits Review Cycle, which covers the financial years 2021/2022 to 2024/2025.
SRC reviewed and set the remuneration and benefits for implementation in two phases in FY 2023/2024 – 2024/2025.
The monthly remuneration is fixed for the term of office of a Member of Parliament, unless reviewed and set by the SRC
Salaries, Allowances, and Hefty Benefits MPs and Senators Enjoy
MPs and Senators earn a gross salary of Ksh 739, 600. This includes a basic salary of Ksh 443,760, a house allowance of Ksh 150,000, an official commuter allowance, and a salary market adjustment of Ksh 145,840.
Salary adjustment market is a salary modification that takes into account salary market positioning.
Lawmakers who serve as Deputy Speakers of both the National Assembly and the Senate earn a basic salary of Ksh 580,014, with an additional house allowance of Ksh 200,000 and a salary market adjustment of Ksh 186,676, bringing their gross salary to Ksh 966,690.
The Leader of the Majority Party and the Leader of the Minority Party each receive a basic salary of Ksh 480,011, a house allowance of Ksh 150,000, and a salary market adjustment of Ksh 170,008, making their total gross salary Ksh 800,019.
MPs and Senators who serve on parliamentary committees receive a Committee Sitting Allowance. Committee chairpersons earn Ksh 15,000 per sitting, capped at a maximum of Ksh 240,000 per month.
Vice-chairpersons receive Ksh 12,000 per sitting, with a monthly ceiling of Ksh 192,000, while regular committee members earn Ksh 7,500 per sitting, up to a maximum of Ksh 120,000 per month.
Members of Parliament are entitled to a Motor Vehicle Reimbursement of Ksh 7,550,000 for the purchase of a car to undertake official duties. This reimbursement is payable once per parliamentary term, with any additional cost beyond the allocated amount borne by the MP.
The Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) is responsible for administratively implementing the reimbursement.
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Car and Mileage Allowances
In addition, the lawmakers receive a car maintenance allowance of Ksh 356,525 per month.
In April this year, the SRC granted all 416 MPs and Senators a pay increase of Ksh 366,011 per month.
The money was described as a fixed monthly mileage allowance, which translates to Ksh 152.26 million per month or Ksh 1.82 billion per year.
Members of Parliament whose constituency offices are more than 205 km from Nairobi can also claim an additional Ksh 152.6 per kilometre per week for the extra distance.
PSC shall ensure that Members of Parliament are reimbursed within the maximum actual distance from the National Assembly (Nairobi) to their respective constituencies.
Members of Parliament whose duties involve additional parliamentary leadership, beyond their regular responsibilities, are entitled to a Special Parliamentary Duty Allowance of up to Ksh 150,000 per month. This allowance is paid on top of their regular salary.
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Medical, Retirement Benefits and Car Loan
Medical cover is provided annually for the lawmaker, one spouse, and up to five fully dependent children under 25 years.
The cover includes inpatient treatment of Ksh 10 million, outpatient treatment of Ksh 300,000, maternity cover of Ksh 150,000, dental cover of Ksh 100,000, and optical cover of Ksh 100,000.
Retirement benefits are determined and reviewed by the SRC. Group life insurance and group personal accident cover are provided at a value equivalent to three times the annual pensionable emoluments.
The legislators also receive car loans and mortgage benefits once per parliamentary term. Members of the Senate and National Assembly can access a car loan of up to Ksh 8 million and a mortgage of up to Ksh 35 million.
The car loan and mortgage carry an interest rate of 3 percent per annum and are recoverable within the contract term of the state officer.
These schemes are administered centrally by the PSC, following applicable regulations and subject to the availability of funds.
Daily Subsistence Allowance for local and foreign travel is paid as per rates reviewed and set by the SRC. Airtime allowances are provided at Ksh 15,000 per month for members of parliament.
Security services are provided based on recommendations from the Inspector-General of Police and are not payable in cash.
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