A South African Member of Parliament who visited Kenya this week on Thursday says he was shocked by the lavish perks accorded to Kenyan MPs.
The MP, Nqabayomzi Lawrence Saziso Kwankwa, arrived in the country on Wednesday for a two-day consultative meeting with parliamentarians from East Africa. Nqabayomzi, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) Chief Whip, spent a day with Nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura and wished he was an MP in Kenya.
“Spending a day with Hon. Dr. Mwaura today in Nairobi, I realized that I am an MP for a wrong country. ? MPs here have a driver, a bodyguard, a PA, a researcher, a communication officer & an admin assistant,” Nqabayomzi tweeted.
He further indicated that Members of Parliament in South Africa do not have such privileges and have to fend for themselves.
“In SA, we fend for ourselves. We don’t even have PAs.”
In another post on Twitter, the MP lamented that the lack of technical support for SA MPs negatively affects the quality of their work.
Reacting to Nqabayomzi’s tweet, Bantu Holomisa, a South African MP and UDM president, said: “Tshawe I understand your frustration but Kenya has been there long before us. However, we may have to benchmark with Kenya. Although we are renowned with the best constitution in the continent or world but the support systems to SA MPs are a challenge.”
Copy and paste it to South…
Copy and paste it to South Africa.
These MPs will just Die like…
These MPs will just Die like Moi, Biwott, etc died. So: Don’t worry!?Be happy!!!?
The South African Mp should…
The South African Mp should have asked Dr
Mwaura,”How do you guys manage to get away with this extravagance-Dont the public complain-see our country is richer than yours,but how do you manage such luxurious life style?”.
Nexttime the south african comes back,he will want to hang with governors.
Extravagance with nothing to…
Extravagance with nothing to show for it….just an impoverished people….kings riding on poor taxpayers backs…taxpayers who cannot even access healthcare without losing an arm and a leg. Pathetic!
Did the South African MP…
Did the South African MP walk around Nairobi to see how many destitutes there are in Kenya?
@South Africa’s MP – it is…
@South Africa’s MP – it is all called vanity, arrogance, fraud, waste and abuse of the tax payers money; something you surely do not want to import to your country of South Africa.
We have been fighting to end that madness for 58 years and it keeps getting worse. In simple terms, it is a disease we would want to get rid of!!
@Maina, any suggestion on…
@Maina, any suggestion on how we can have these thieving leaders quit in shame,and have the ethical ones replace them?They seem to have figured away to bamboozle the electorate in to voting them in time after time….
If only they could stop squandering public coffers….They seem to think that it is an endless source of income,just to be tapped at will.
Iam sure there are many Kenyans who are honest, dedicated,productive,and have integrity,and if elected would deliver on their promises,and will not squander public money.How do we get them to lead?
Maxiley,yes, we can do it if…
Maxiley,yes, we can do it if only we come together, speak with one voice and stay united. We can even show them the door and make them pay for all what they have stolen. We are the employers and we have the upper hand. Remember that, “the ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.”,good and peace loving but oppressed Kenyans.Kwako ndugu.
@ maxiley – hello Bro – why…
@ maxiley – hello Bro – why do you ask me such a difficult question?
First – the voters must be educated (a wholesome change of attitude – freeing of mind is the impetus for positive thinking) to understand that those they elect are honest and are willing to place voters issues of concern first.
Second – those elected must take a vow to remain honest and trust worthy while in office. They must be accountable to the people by maintaining tangible records through regularly scheduled formal audits
Third – if an elected official is found to lack integrity, he or she must step aside for investigations to be conducted without any interference.
Fourth – corruption is the biggest menace Kenyans are experiencing on daily basis. The ghost of corruption is deeply rooted throughout the Kenyan society. Kenyans must step up the fight against corruption regardless of who it directly touches. We must shun the appetite for “free” things.
Fifth – Any public servant found to be corrupt must be put in jail and also be forced to return everything he/she may have stolen from the public coffers!
Sixth – the judiciary must be willing and be quick to prosecute and convict anyone found to be guilty of corruption.
Seventh – the public must stop glorifying elected officials who are constantly stealing from the coffers. You know as well as I do that most folks in Kenya seem to believe that corruption is a way of life. I totally disagree with this belief!
There are so many things we can do to stifle having bad leaders getting elected. However, the voters must be willing to accept bad apples simply because they are luring them with stolen money! The voters must be willing to free their mind from mediocre things and then the rest will soon follow!
@ Ndugu Maina ,your answers…
@ Ndugu Maina ,your answers are very good, and I dare say that even if wr hired the so called consultants/experts in this matters,they could not offer better responses.
We are Kenyans have to figure out collectively on how to get it done.Or else we shall continue sinking in this shithole.
@maxiley – I have come to…
@maxiley – I have come to believe that corruption is a state of individual mind-set, based on personal observations and various readings in the print and media.
Not too long ago, @kibowen told me that I will be corrupt if given the opportunity to steal! I have severally thought about what Kibowen said about me, and that in itself took me aback.
And I now declare that I will not steal even with a glaring opportunity dropped on my laps! I see no joy in anyone being a thief. It is a weak valueless characteristic position to train a mind that you can only make progress by stealing from others.
I want to say this, I have never stolen anything from anyone in my short life. I have managed huge sums of money, undergone thorough audits, and always have proved 100% accountability of everything at my disposal and control.
My personal convictions and faith have always taught me that “honesty is the best policy!” You can live a very comfortable and fulfilling life purely by working hard and doing what is morally right!
And why did a stranger pointedly say that I could, steal given the chance to do so!”? This question has helped me to renew my commitment to do what is right, even in the absence of anyone watching over my shoulders.
We as Kenyans have lost faith, confidence and trust in one another. We have come to justify what is “morally wrong” as the measuring rod of our moral conscience and the general behavior standard.
We have failed to unanimously accept what is large “right thing to do” as our code of ethics in conducting the business of our country for the benefit of all. We have replaced “us all” with the inept philosophy of “me, myself, and l”!
We see what only works for “me” but put the other guy at horrible jeopardy as the glorifying way. We must reverse the course of our thought process by accepting that “we” is better than “me”. There is a lasting strength in “we” as a people.
Self driven negative greed have become a cancer to our way of life in general. We have failed to become good neighbors to our fellow citizens by excoriating them instead of lifting them up and sharing with them what is traditionally good – good acts of honesty and kindness!
We can make Kenya to be a near perfect country if we can believe in ourselves first, and by morally accepting that “I will not steal” what is not mine.
The theory of 1% amassing everything through theft of our coffers and the run-away corruption is a very short-lived concept! Basic history have shown this kind of thinking not work in any society throughout the world.
Then we can have faith in our fellow men (the guy next door and beyond) that when they say they have not stolen, that becomes a valuable word with specific meaning, and can be banked in high places of value – mainly in the heart of hearts!
@ Maina very well put. …
@ Maina very well put. Couldn’t agree more that Kenyans have a deep rooted appetite for corruption. And for the start of managing the menace, it will require yours truly the utmost sacrifice from the populace.
When Kenyan goons go bench…
When Kenyan goons go bench-marking, they ignore cost cutting lessons… and only pick lessons where they’d benefit themselves….NEVER for the good of Wananchi. Poor Mkenya!
@South Africa’s MP – Mwaura…
@South Africa’s MP – Mwaura have been in the Senate for two terms. Can you ask him him to show you anything he has done to uplift the living standards of those he was nominated to serve?
Also, I want to thank you for holding Zuma accountable for squandering South Africa’s resources. This is something Kenya’s leaders are not able to do; holding their fellow corrupt leaders accountable. Partly all the reason Mwaura’s lifestyle is leaving you memorized! It is all faze without much substance!!
Instead he should have…
Instead he should have condemned it than to admire such a greed. Considering the general state of Kenyans’ lives. That is bullshit.
It is called a waste of…
It is called a waste of state resources. The Kenyan counterparts do not deserve any of these perks. They do nothing for the ordinary mwananchi. These fat cats are only there for themselves. I keep wondering when the country is going broke. So much looting!!!!!The government is loaded with so many officials who are under performing. Their main goal is to enrich themselves while stealing as much as possible. Greedy people.
THE South African WAS…
THE South African WAS SHOCKED BY THE STUPIDITY OF THESE POOR East Africans WHO LIVE SO LAVISHLY WHILE PEOPLE LANGUISH IN POVERTY IN KIBERA AND MANY OTHER SLUMS. KENYA NEEDS A REVOLUTION.
Take heart young MP from…
Take heart young MP from South Africa. Mwaura is just playing you! He is showing you everything big that he has not earn it himself. It is all stolen from the tax payers.
You look like the Honorable Nelson Mandela! Mandela is the figurehead you must look up to in times of severe temptation.
Mandela is the man you must be like as you continue to serve South Africans. Mwaura’s material arrogance is just a mere perishable commodity!
Be like the great Mandera and your legacy will last for a long time; time immemorial!
Vanities,Vanities,Vanities…
Vanities,Vanities,Vanities.Many kenyans cannot afford 2 meals per day n this mpigs r talking about stealing lifestyle mentality.Its all vanities.Mtu ajifanyie kazi sio kukula ya bure.
Admiring glutton &…
Admiring glutton & wickedness.