A recent report by the Controller of Budget has revealed that Members of County Assemblies across the country pocketed a total of Ksh1.57 billion in sitting allowances in the 2024/2025 financial year.
The report, titled 'County Governments Budget Implementation Review Report (BIRR) for August 2025', claimed that the expenditure accounted for 87 per cent of the approved for MCA sitting allowances.
According to the report, however, the spending was part of the approved seating allowance budget allocation of Ksh1.80 billion.
"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," the report stated.
"This expenditure accounts for 87 per cent of the approved MCA sitting allowance budget, an increase from 86 per cent in FY 2023/24, when the County Assemblies spent Ksh1.59 billion on sitting allowances," it added.
According to the report, Busia County topped the list, spending Ksh64.4 million on sitting allowances, followed by Baringo at Ksh50.4 million, Homa Bay with Ksh45 million, Embu at Ksh30.6 million, and Elgeyo Marakwet at Ksh28.1 million.
On the other flip side, Bungoma County recorded the lowest expenditure at Ksh27.5 million, followed by Garissa at Ksh20.3 million, Isiolo at Ksh18.7 million, Tana River at Ksh17.5 million, and Lamu at Ksh15.9 million.
The report further highlighted that Nairobi, Machakos, Kitui, and Mombasa are among the top spenders on travel.
According to the report, in the last financial year, Nairobi spent Ksh630.3 million on domestic travel alone. Ksh271.3 million was spent from the County Assembly, while Ksh359.1 million was spent from the executive.
During that period, Machakos County Spent Ksh532 million on domestic travels and Ksh99 million more on foreign trips to countries such as Brazil, Dubai, Albania, and China.
Kitui County, on the other hand, spent Ksh709.95 million, with Ksh536 million being spent on local travel and Ksh72 million on foreign engagements.
In Mombasa, Ksh112 million was used in foreign travel expenses, with officials touring countries like Turkey, Spain, South Korea, Japan, and the United States.
