This archive report was first published on 8 August 2019.
As Kenya grapples with economic challenges, a planned trip by 85 Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of County Assemblies to the US has sparked outrage. The trip, which is set to take place in the near future, has been criticized as a mockery of the country's austerity measures.
According to sources, the delegation will include a large number of parliamentary staff, which has raised eyebrows given the limited speaking slots available at international conferences. Even if the MPs were to participate in side meetings, a small team of just five representatives would be sufficient, making the planned trip seem unnecessary and extravagant.
The benefits of the trip are also being questioned, with many arguing that a few representatives could have achieved the same outcomes. Furthermore, past experience has shown that delegates who attend international conferences often fail to prepare reports, and when they do, they are often of poor quality.
Given the country's economic struggles, the planned trip has been deemed imprudent and injudicious. The National Treasury has been reorganizing spending to keep the economy afloat, and various arms of government have had to cut their expenditures. In this context, Parliament's decision to engage in profligate spending is seen as a slap in the face to the sacrifices being made by others.
Foreign embassies in Nairobi have also expressed disdain at Kenyan politicians' and top government officials' obsession with traveling to their countries under various pretexts, which often yield no tangible benefits to Kenyans.
Speakers Justin Muturi and Ken Lusaka must take a stand and rationalize the trip. Only a few MPs should travel, if they must, and on the condition that they submit a report to Parliament. It is time to stop such largesse when everyone else is making sacrifices.
