This archive report was first published on 8 August 2019.
Kenya's Parliament has been criticized for sending an 85-member delegation to the US, at a cost of nearly Sh100 million, to attend a legislative assembly.
The delegation, led by Speakers Justin Muturi and Kenneth Lusaka, includes members of staff and personal assistants, and will be in the US for seven days.
According to reports, the cost of the trip includes business class tickets, which cost about Sh587,000 each, and accommodation in high-end hotels, which cost an average of Sh30,000 per room.
Meanwhile, back in Kenya, 18-month-old Jeptoo Cherutich is struggling to survive at the Sunrise Children's Home in Kabarnet, due to malnutrition and hunger.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has described the Parliament's behavior as 'shameful misuse of power', and many Kenyans are expressing their disappointment and outrage at the lavish spending.
As the MPs enjoy their trip to the US, they are being paid a daily subsistence allowance of Sh75,000 each, while MCAs on the trip pocket Sh42,600 a piece every day.
It's not the first time that Kenya's MPs have been criticized for their lavish spending, with many Kenyans feeling that they are out of touch with the struggles of the ordinary citizen.
