Members of Parliament have been using weak systems to pocket millions of shillings on mileage claims, an issue that has divided members between those from Nairobi and its environs and those from far-away counties.
The system in place ensures that an MP claims Sh187 for every kilometre covered after clocking 750 km every month.
This system has seen some MPs claim up to Sh1.5 million in untaxed money above their normal salaries and allowances, while those from Nairobi and its environs pocket nothing.
Parliament uses up to Sh1.8 billion a year on mileage compensation only.
The elaborate scheme was highlighted by a report prepared by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
It has emerged that Jubilee lawmakers will hold a parliamentary group meeting on Tuesday to try to deal with growing anger among members about how National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi dealt with a report that exposed the rot.
Many members mentioned in the report have expressed their dissatisfaction with the way the report was made public without their knowledge.
SWINDLING TAXPAYERS
PSC invited the anti-graft body to look into its accounting books last year and Mr Muturi received the report containing accusations against members who engaged in unscrupulous ways to swindle taxpayers through dubious mileage claims.
In what appears like an elaborate plan, after every weekend, MPs report back on the kilometres travelled to qualify for reimbursement. The allowance is meant to ensure that MPs regularly visit their constituencies.
This has not gone down well with their Nairobi and neighbouring constituencies who think their counterparts from far-off constituencies do not deserve the compensation.
What is startling is that there is no uniform way to verify the mileage filings and it is, therefore, possible for MPs to file fictitious kilometres covered.
The problem is so big that Parliament is forced to forego paying for essential services so that it can pay MPs. MPs claim prompt payment at the end of the month.
The Sunday Nation obtained a copy of mileage claims and a random check of MPs’ claims shows lawmakers make a killing.
POOR RECORD KEEPING
Surprisingly, some members of the Parliamentary Service Commission, who have government fuelled vehicles, lay claim to the mileage.
Even MPs who are known to fly to their constituencies also line up at the honey pot of mileage claims.
“There are no records to show how an MP travelled. Record keeping was abolished during the term of the Grand Coalition Government. Claims are just filed and no one can question them,” said an exasperated insider.
In the current arrangement, Ministry of Roads engineers only have to write a letter showing the MP travelled to the constituency, a plan which is open to manipulation.
The mileage claims have eaten into budgets set aside for water and electricity bills, which made Parliament go without the essential services in September after the providers cut them off.
Staff at constituency and Nairobi’s Continental House offices have gone unpaid for months as Parliament tries to juggle MPs’ expectations and its other responsibilities.
“Every MP is entitled to Sh310,000 to pay their staff, but it is sometimes delayed because MPs have to be paid their mileage claims first,” said a source.
Speaker of National Assembly J.B. Muturi, who is also PSC chairman, said EACC has suggested that members be offered a fixed rate for various categories of kilometres covered.
“The suggestion is that 100 to 250 km covered to be paid a fixed rate and 250 km to 500 km another fixed rate and so on. But this also does not cover those who cover less than 100 kilometres. I am open to suggestions on how to tackle this issue but I will be bound by PSC decisions,” he said.
SRC ENDORSED CURRENT SYSTEM
The current system was endorsed by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission but it is liable to abuse and it will be interesting to see how PSC and SRC deal with it.
Claims for the month of October show that Leader of Majority in National Assembly Aden Duale (Garissa Township), who is entitled to government fuelled cars, travelled for 1,466 kilometres.
He claimed 239, 846.60 a week and at the end of the month, he claimed 959, 386.50.
When contacted, Mr Duale said he has never falsified claims and he gets what he is entitled to.
“I do not use my GK vehicle for my constituency work. Check with Parliament records of the vehicle details. That figure is for various months as my constituency is Garissa,” said Mr Duale.
Mr Jimmy Angwenyi (Kitutu Chache North), a member of PSC and therefore a beneficiary of government fuelled vehicle, covered 1,242 km in the month of October. He was claiming Sh97, 824 a week on average and made Sh791,296.80 that month.
Joyce Emanikor, Turkana County Woman Representative, claimed a staggering Sh1,555,204 having travelled for 2,260 km.
Mr James Rege (Karachuonyo) travelled 1,006 km and pocketed Sh614,202.40 while Dr Robert Pukose (Endebess) covered 850 km and claimed Sh97,140.
Mr Olago Aluoch (Kisumu West) travelled 966 km in October and claimed Sh434,106.40 while his Turkana East counterpart Nicholas Ngikor, claimed Sh1,315,o76.40 for travelling 1,940 km.
Mr Jones Mlolwa (Voi) took Sh447,613.60 for travelling 784 km while Lamu West MP Julius Ndegwa got Sh1,199,514.40 for clocking 1,786 km.
In the millionaires’ club there was Turkana South MP James Lomenen with 2,016 kilometres and Lamu East MP Shariff Athman who had covered 2,002 km. They were paid Sh1,372,106 and Sh1,361,600.80 respectively. Makali Mulu (Kitui Central) covered 410 km for which he was paid Sh166,964 while his Kibwezi East counterpart Jessica Mbalu claimed Sh284,024 having clocked 566 km.
The other MPs who also took home a tidy sum are Bumula legislator Boniface Otsula who claimed Sh564,676 for 940 km, Mumias West’s Johnson Naika clocked 996 km and claimed Sh606,698 and Muhoroni MP James Onyango K’Oyoo with 622 km who was paid Sh326,048.80.
Senate Deputy Minority Leader Abdirhamn Hassan (Wajir) defended the current setup.
“I am ready to swap places with an MP from Kiambu so that they can go through what we go through. Wajir is bigger than Western, Nyanza and Central combined. We deserve the money,” he said.
MPs Ferdinand Waititu (Kabete) and Njoroge Baiya (Githunguri) called for the scrapping of the mileage claims system.
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