In Kenya, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) determines the salary of all state offices, from the presidency to Members of Parliament. The Members of Parliament ( MP) are elected leaders serving their constituencies within the legislative arm of the government. Every financial year, starting from July 1st, the pay of MPs in Kenya is continuously revised. For this reason, the general public is always curious to find out how much they earn.
Truth be said, MP salaries vary widely, and you will be surprised that not all members of parliament in Kenya earn the same salaries. We will explain why in the guide. Below is everything you need to know about an MP’s basic and Gross salary in Kenya.
MP’s salary in Kenya
When it comes to paying State officers in Kenya at the National and county levels, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission is tasked with determining their pay every financial year. The 2010 constitution clearly states that the SRC functions in setting remuneration, allowances, and benefits under Article 230(5).
The latest Gazette notice published by SRC was on August 9th, 2023. It states that SRC will implement the salaries for all state officers in two phases in the financial years (FY) 2023/2024 and 2024/2025. As of the writing of this article, the MP’s salary in Kenya is being subjected to the 2024/25 FY, whereby they earn a basic salary of Ksh 443,760, up from Ksh 435,301 in the Previous FY.
In addition, the salaries of MPS are also subjected to various allowances, including a housing allowance of Ksh 150,00, a commuter allowance marked as official, and a Salary market adjustment allowance of Ksh 145,840, bringing the total amount a Member of Parliament earns in Kenya per month to Ksh 739, 600 in the FY 2024/2025 ( It started on July 1st, 2024).
Below is a table to help you understand MPs Gross salary after all the allowances:
| Description | Amount (Ksh.) |
|---|---|
| Basic salary | 443,760 |
| House allowance | 150,000 |
| Market adjustment | 45,840 |
| Commuter allowance | Official |
| Total basic salary | 739,600 |
Benefits & Car Grants
MP salaries in Kenya go beyond their basic pay and even their allowance. On top of this, the SRC provides them with other benefits, especially for those involved with parliamentary duties and so on.
For example, if an MP serves in any committee, they are entitled to receive a committee sitting allowance based on their role; a chairperson will get Ksh 15,000, capped at Ksh 240,00 per month; a vice-chair will get Ksh 12,000 per sitting, capped at Ksh 192 000 per month, and members to commit will each get Ksh 7,500 per sitting, capped at Ksh 12,000 per month.
Other benefits involve receiving official transport, where the MP gets a motor vehicle reimbursement of Ksh 7,550,000 for purchasing a car to undertake official duties in the constituencies they serve. Additionally, they get an allowance of up to Ksh 356,525 per month and can claim mileage for one return journey per week from Nairobi to their constituency at Ksh. 152.6 per kilometer
The number of benefits that MPs in Kenya are entitled to is endless. Below is a table that lists all of them as provided by the SRC:
| Benefit Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Committee Sitting Allowance | – Chairperson: Ksh. 15,000 per sitting (max Ksh. 240,000/month) – Vice-Chairperson: Ksh. 12,000 per sitting (max Ksh. 192,000/month) – Member: Ksh. 7,500 per sitting (max Ksh. 120,000/month) |
| Transport Benefits | – Motor Vehicle Reimbursement: Ksh. 7,550,000 (one-time, per parliamentary term, for car purchase) – Car Maintenance Allowance: Ksh. 356,525/month – Mileage Claim: Ksh. 152.6 per km for one return journey weekly – Zoned Mileage Reimbursement: Zone 1 (up to 350 km): Max Ksh. 462,887/month; Zone 2 (351 km and above): Based on actual distance |
| Special Duty Allowance | Up to Ksh. 150,000/month for MPs with additional parliamentary leadership responsibilities |
| Medical Benefits | – Inpatient: Ksh. 10 million/year – Outpatient: Ksh. 300,000/year – Maternity: Ksh. 150,000/year – Dental: Ksh. 100,000/year – Optical: Ksh. 100,000/year |
| Car Loan and Mortgage | – Car Loan: Up to Ksh. 8 million (at 3% interest) – Mortgage: Up to Ksh. 35 million (at 3% interest) Both rates are repayable within the term |
| Airtime | – Up to Ksh. 15,000/month |
Do All MPs in Kenya Earn the Same?
As mentioned in the article above, the current basic and gross for Mmeners of parliament in Kenya as of 2024 stands at Ksh 443,760 and Ksh 739, 600 respectively. However, it should also be essential to clarify that not all the Members of Parliament in Kenya earn the same salaries with all the allowances and benefits factored in.
This is because certain MPs in the house have leadership roles, i.e., leader of the Minority/Majority party and Deputy speaker. The leaders in this category have slightly higher salaries than the rest of the members. For example, an MP who is a deputy speaker earns Ksh 580,014, and a leader of either the majority or the minority party earns Ksh 480,011 as a basic monthly salary.
With allowances, their Gross salaries are as follows:
| State Officer | Basic Salary (Ksh.) | House Allowance (Ksh.) | Commuter Allowance | Salary Market Adjustment (Ksh.) | Gross Salary (Ksh.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly | 580,014 | 200,000 | Official | 186,676 | 966,690 |
| Leader of the Majority Party | 480,011 | 150,000 | Official | 170,008 | 800,019 |
| Leader of the Minority Party | 480,011 | 150,000 | Official | 170,008 | 800,019 |
Conclusion
And there you have it. While the salaries of a Member of Parliament in Kenya can be confusing, it all narrows down to their Basic salaries, allowances, and leadership roles. The basic salary of an MP in Kenya without any roles is Ksh 443,760, while those with positions can earn up to Ksh (480,011-580,014) in 2025.
