Homa Bay MP Peter Kaluma has revealed that only 20 MPs attended the legislative assembly in Nashville, Tennessee,US.
“I doubt more than 20 MPs went. When you go out there, there are so many things that happen. When we went to Russia we were looking at opportunities which we found,” the ODM legislator said.
He said that the excess number mentioned by Raila Odinga might have been drawn from the number of MCAs who were also representing the country in US.
“I doubt the number of delegates from Parliament. It must have included honourable members of County Assemblies… anyway, this is not to justify the unnecessary expenditure,” Kaluma claimed.
Peter Kaluma, Homa Bay MP: I doubt the number of delegates from Parliament. It must have included honourable members of County Assemblies… anyway, this is not to justify the unnecessary expenditure @lindahoguttu @SophiaWanuna #TheBigStory pic.twitter.com/AzP05XgDO0
— ktn (@KTNKenya) August 13, 2019
Kaluma further argued that the Parliament carries out prior planning before approving any delegates trip. However, he claimed that the MPs should consider setting a limit to curb over-expenditure.
Peter Kaluma, Homa Bay MP: Parliament normally considers what is taking various leaders out but we should have an optimum number of the number of MPs that are sent out there @lindahoguttu @SophiaWanuna #TheBigStory pic.twitter.com/oCBJ6YtZL7
— ktn (@KTNKenya) August 13, 2019
According to Raila, 90 delegates attended the legislative assembly. Raila claimed that other countries such as The United States had 9 delegates, Nigeria had 20 and Portugal had 2. He criticized the huge expenditure as a “scandalous a waste of revenue by Parliament and County assemblies.
“It’s a shame. Parliament owes Kenyans an explanation as to why they send bloated delegations who bring no benefit to our country,” Raila insisted.
Raila Odinga: 90 delegates from Kenya went to Nashville, US. The United States had 9 delegates, Nigeria had 20 and Portugal had 2. It’s a shame. Parliament owes Kenyans an explanation as to why they send bloated delegations who bring no benefit to our country #TheBigStory pic.twitter.com/OYmK4h8MlZ
— ktn (@KTNKenya) August 13, 2019