County assembly speakers have filed a lawsuit against the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), claiming discrimination in the allocation of car grants. The speakers are seeking a High Court order to compel SRC to provide them with a one-time Ksh5 million car grant per county assembly term and a monthly car maintenance allowance of KES 200,000. They argue that SRC has unfairly allocated motor vehicle benefits among elected leaders, leaving them without the same privileges granted to their deputies and Members of County Assemblies (MCAs).
The speakers, through their legal representatives Issa & Company Advocates, contend that the government-provided official cars are not sufficient for their personal needs. “The official cars are only usable during office hours and do not serve personal purposes,” the petition states. They argue that this makes it necessary for them to receive a personal car grant, in addition to the official vehicle.
Their petition follows two SRC gazette notices—one issued in July 2022 and the other in August 2023—that reviewed the remuneration and benefits for county assembly leaders. The 2022 notice allowed county assembly speakers to take a KES 4 million car loan, while deputy speakers and MCAs were eligible for up to Ksh2 million in loans. However, the 2023 notice provided deputy speakers and MCAs with additional benefits, including car reimbursements, maintenance allowances, and mileage claims, while speakers did not receive similar benefits.
The speakers argue that the official car is not a personal asset but rather a county assembly asset that must be returned when they leave office. “Once a speaker exits office, they do not retain the car, nor do they have the option to purchase it,” the petition notes. In contrast, deputy speakers and MCAs are allowed to keep their vehicles and receive a one-time reimbursement to purchase a personal car.
They also argue that the official cars are shared among county assembly leaders, creating challenges for reliable transportation and potential political interference. The speakers claim this arrangement limits their access to transportation and undermines their ability to carry out their duties effectively.
The speakers are now asking the court to quash the 2022 and 2023 gazette notices, accusing SRC of unfairly favoring deputy speakers and MCAs in the allocation of transport benefits. They contend that the failure to address their needs for a personal car grant and maintenance benefits reflects a failure to recognize the importance of their role as impartial leaders.
