Economy

Taxpayers to fund MPs’ spouses night stay at 5-star hotels

MPS

Kamukunji MP Yussuf Hassan (left), Nairobi Woman rep Esther Passaris (centre) and Yatta MP Charles Kilonzo in Nairobi during the MPs’ induction retreat on September 20. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | NMG

Spouses of MPs will be treated to a sumptuous dinner Friday and a night-out at five-star facilities like Intercontinental Hotel and Sarova Stanley at taxpayers’ expense.

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has invited the spouses of the 349 MPs to the gala night.

“The workshop will also have a family session where member’s spouses are invited to attend and participate during a gala night,” Michael Sialai, the clerk of the National Assembly said in a communication to MPs to invite their spouses for the gala night.

“It is on this basis that I am kindly requesting you to invite your spouses to attend and participate during the gala evening on Thursday, September, 21, 2017. Accommodation will also be provided for the spouses on that night.”

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi tickled MPs on Monday when he asked them to bring their spouses “for us to know each other since we are a family.”

“There will be a family session and I ask you to bring your spouses. As a family, we need to know each other,” Mr Muturi said.

MPs checked in on Sunday at the Intercontinental Hotel for the induction exercise and are expected to check out on Friday.

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The Hotel is accommodating more than 200 MPs while the rest have been distributed to various top city hotels including Sarova Stanley.
Members of the Senate are in Sopa Lodge in Naivasha.

“During the induction, members will be appraised on parliamentary matters, including the rule of procedure of the House, the committee system, the formulation of legislation and legislative budget oversight,” Mr Sialai said in the invitation letter.

Ethics and Antic-Corruption Commission chief executive Halakhe Waqo, Dr Julius Kipng’etich, the CEO of Uchumi Supermarkets #ticker:UCHM, and former head of public service, Dr Sally Kosgei, educated MPs on ethics and integrity as well as diplomacy.

Professor Okoth Okombo from the University of Nairobi handled matters of etiquette, decorum and public relation.

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