Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga has criticized the huge expenditure by Kenyan legislators who are currently on a trip to the United States.
On Wednesday, Odinga questioned the high number of Kenyan delegation attending the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) in Nashville, Tennessee.
Kenya sent an 85-man team comprising of both Speakers of the National Assembly and Senate, MPs, Senators, MCAs, clerks and support staff, who are expected to gobble millions of shillings of taxpayers’ cash during the trip.
Daily Nation said it could not establish the exact cost of the trip but estimated it could cost the taxpayers more than Sh100 million.
In a statement, Odinga said he “finds no justification at all in Parliament and county assemblies sending such a huge delegation on a mission where a handful could come back with a report.”
Odinga added that this trip was evidence that “these institutions have money they do not know what to do with, or they simply don’t care about the burden taxpayers are bearing.”
On average, the legislator’s airfare to and from Nashville will cost between Sh355,000 and Sh587,000 for each person traveling depending on whether they are on business or economy class. The cost does not include allowances and per diems that will be paid to them.
Speakers of Parliament pocket about Sh75,000 as a daily subsistence allowance for travel to the US, MPs pocket Sh65,000, while MCAs take Sh42,600, according to the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA).
The Kenyan delegation is the largest amongst the countries represented in the US conference followed by Nigeria with 20 representatives, Daily Nation reported. Most other countries sent between one and six legislators to represent them.
These days, we can’t even…
These days, we can’t even trust the reporters. So, why not name the 85? Or at least explain where the number came from. If it was from ODM, you need to do your independent search before publishing such a story.
This is what corruption…
This is what corruption looks like. Those MPigs who are already in USA need to be hauled back immediately with the next cargo plane. Those who have not arrived need to be denied entry at the point of entry. How can 85 MPigs or whatever go to Nashville, Tennessee to watch Dolly Parton show on taxpayers money? Mr. Kyle McCarter this is the time to exercise your muscles. You said no corrupt politicians will be allowed to go to USA. All those 85 big thugs are corrupt.
https://www.ncsl.org…
https://www.ncsl.org/meetings-training/ncsl-legislative-summit-2019.aspx
If you look @ the agenda, it is entirely concerned with U.S. legislatures. Unless you are looking for luxury, $650 – $750 is not necessary in Nashville. These people should be staying at a la quinta, chartering a bus not a limo, eat at a buffet and save Kenya upwards of $100k to $150k. Better yet, scrap the trip and employ a few kenyan planners with degrees in public administration and follow their recommendations.
Wow…total waste.Rao,dont…
Wow…total waste.Rao,dont just question. Do something.
We have kenya womens basketball stranded apparently due to money shortage and we are sending 85 do nothing people on vacation to USA?
If a few people dont get red slips over this,then things will never change …
Raila just shut up!! We are…
Raila just shut up!! We are Kenyans and every body knows we are super greedy and professional thieves. Out of those 85 plus politicians enroute here 78 of them need to be diagnosed for stage 4 cancer ( modern medical term for Africans with AIDS) , also shop and learn new technology for poor Kenyans.
I’m saying Raila should shut up because he himself used to pocket millions of shilling as a contractor only to build worthless roads ( mind you he is a damned engineer).
Last year we had a bunch of politicians who flew all way to Russia for World Cup finals , guess what? They claimed to bring back home soccer skills- thanks we made it by beating Tanzania in Egypt!!!
Again I say Raila shut up! Make vitendawili to your grand kids.
These representatives don’t…
These representatives don’t even have sympathy about how big is kenyan porvety line. None gives a damn of how our fellow Kenyans are struggling even for basic needs like food shelter and clothing, leave alone water shortages. Wait and see, what they will learn from this trip, they can’t even implement it. Time and time again I will continue advocating that salaries of kenyan representatives should be lowered , so that as a country we will have people who are willing to improve our country but not money and luxury motivated individuals.
@Bannardo, the only thing…
@Bannardo, the only thing they will learn is how to sharpen their shopping skills because that is what they are known to do instead. Kenyan diaspora can play a role in tracking them to see what they actually do especially if the said conferences are near where they live and expose them in the social media.
If we cannot stop them,…
If we cannot stop them, their creator will. They will steal with no one to stop them but soon they will have to write their “final will” to foreign companies for freight Bill’s, accommodation Bill’s and hospitals Bill’s and eventually die anyway- due to cancer.
Raila could care less. He used to spend the same in five star hotels in the USA a few years ago. He made the country pay for two elections without thinking about the cost to the country. Now he pretends like he cares but his track record says otherwise.
Yes, you leap what you sow and God is not mocked.
I want my justice in the…
I want my justice in the here and now. None of this future recrimination in a place not everyone believes in. My relatives in Kenya are paying for these greedy corrupt pigs now, not in the future.
@Mundumugo,isecond you in…
@Mundumugo,isecond you in your response. The main reason being that Christians believe that these crooks can steal,and commit all kinds of crime,and when tired,or had enough just repent,and all is forgiven….wow talk of getting away Scott free.
we are being asked to donate…
we are being asked to donate for a cancer wing construction at Kenyatta hospital – Mps and mca are exempt we have to boot for their travels and entertainment too. these people are made in hell
OMG Loise…seriously,while…
OMG Loise…seriously,while 90% are sleeping hungry,these 85 greedy idiots are shopping in America.For sure they are made from Hell,i concur Loise.But y’all know what?KARMA is alive and well..
Where are those Trump immigration people picking up 680 hard working immigrants from their jobs,why can’t they invade these places in tennesse where these idiots are residing?
Just so they know,and i hope they do,what we sow is what we reap….
Bur Raila has an…
Bur Raila has an unconstitutional position in the government that is sucking up about the same per month every month. The pot calling the kettle black!
Let’s hope they are not…
Let’s hope they are not going to eat too much bacon there, then ask us to pay for their cancer treatment in expensive Western hospitals.?
Unfortunately, the story is…
Unfortunately, the story is fake. The MPs are still corrupt, but the reporters owe us true reporting. Somehow, a corrupt reporter was paid to skew the numbers. Its total corruption, from the MPs to the reporters. No where to turn.
The list was provided by the…
The list was provided by the organisers of the conference.
…SPEAKERS
– Justin Muturi – National Assembly
….Ken Lusaka – Senate
– MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADERS
– Kipchumba Murkomen – Senate Majority Leader
– James Orengo – Senate Minority Leader
– Cleophas Malalah- Senate deputy Minority Leader
….PARLIAMENTARY SERVICE COMMISSION
– Naomi Shaban – vice-chairperson
– Samuel Chepkonga
– Aisha Katana
– Lonah Mumelo
…PARLIAMENTARY STAFF
– Jeremiah Nyegenye – Clerk of the Senate
– Nelson Ayewoh – Clerk of Senate
– Mohamed Ali Mohamed – Deputy clerk, Senate
-Daniel Chania – Principal clerk assistant
– John Mutega – Principal clerk assistant
– Noor Awadh Swaleh Ghalgan – Principal clerk assistant
– Moses Lemuna – Third clerk assistant
– Crispus Tima – Clerk assistant
– Yusuf Shimoy – Clerk assistant
– Judy Ndegwa – Legal Counsel, Senate
– Aloise Lekulo – Chief Sergeant-at-Arms
– Phyllis Makau – Parliamentary Budget Office director
-Buchere Brightone – Director of Curriculum, Training and Research
– Anthony Thiongo Njoroge – Director of Litigation and Compliance
– Shadia Munini Faryd – Deputy Director, PSC Secretariat
– Kehinde Olaiya – Deputy director, National Assembly
– Chidinma Roseline Osuagwu – Assistant director
– Shedho Mohamed Liban – Finance office
– Lucianne Limo – Media relations office
– Rose Kisiangani – Principal research officer
– Mohamed Sani Tahir – Administrative officer
– Edwin Wandabusi – Personal assistant to Speaker, Speaker’s office
….SENATORS
– Susan Kihika
– Aaron Cheruiyot
– Ali Abdullahi
– Beth Mugo
– Mutula Kilonzo Jr
– Falhadfa Iman
– George Khaniri
– Eric Mogeni
…NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
– Kimani Ichungw’ah
– Cecil Mbarire
– Charles Njagua (cancelled travel)
– Asha Hussein
– Adan Keynan (cancelled travel)
– Ben Momanyi
– Julius Mawathe
– Mutunga Kanyuithia
– Nyaga Muchiri
– Omboko Milemba
– Tecla Tum
– Daniel Tutoek
– Ken Chonga
– Hassan Mohamed
…COUNTY ASSEMBLIES SPEAKERS
– John Kaguchia – Speaker, Nyeri
– George Ndotto Mutua – Speaker, Kitui
….COUNTY ASSEMBLIES STAFF
– Kipambi Ntele – Deputy clerk, Kajiado
– Grace Nganga – Senior clerk assistant, Nyandarua
– Robert Mwalu Musyoka – Deputy clerk, Makueni
…COUNTY ASSEMBLIES FORUM
– Judy Oduma – Chief Executive Officer
– Esther Ndile – vice-chairperson
….COUNTY ASSEMBLIES
– Joseph Masiaya – Kajiado MCA
– Esther Wanjiku Muhoho – Nyandarua MCA
– Milkah Wanjiru – Nyandarua MCA
– Lillian Gathua – Majority whip, Nyeri
– Chege Mwaura – Nairobi MCA
– David Mbithi – Nairobi MCA
– Geoffrey Mbuthia – Nairobi MCA
– Jacqueline Kamwaro – Nairobi MCA
– Millicent Mugadi – Nairobi MCA
– Moses Ogeto – Nairobi MCA
– Oluoch Odalo – Nairobi MCA
– Mark Mugambi – Nairobi MCA
– Rose Kemunto Otondo – Kisii MCA
– Christopher Mwambingu – Taita Taveta MCA
….*OTHERS
– Jane Ngugi – Member, County Assembly of Kenya
– Rebah Wabwile – Member, County Assembly of Kenya
– Samuel Teum – Member, County Assembly of Kenya
@imkgoogo, the story is real…
@imkgoogo, the story is real and since you asked for good reporting here is the link. https://mobile.nation.co.ke/news/politics/MPs-MCAs-who-attended-US-conference/3126390-5228342-item-1-ykdlgr/index.html.
To further help, I checked for you and the attendance cost ranges from $500 for one day to $900 for on site registrations. Assuming taxpayers are footing the hotel bill and transportion, we are talking between $3500 to $4000 at a minimum in fixed costs for the US leg of the stay per individual crook. Airline tickets are not yet included nor are incidentals. Are you really ok with this kind of waste? If you were a shareholder in a company(taxpayer in this case), would this pass muster? People like you, who gladly accept incompetence, corruption, fraud and rampant waste are why Kenya remains stuck.