Outrage over MCAs’ Sh15m ‘bonding trip’ to Tanzania
Kisumu residents have criticised their ward reps for going on a Sh15 million “bonding trip” to Tanzania at a time key politicians from the region including Cord leader Raila Odinga are traversing the county to mobilise supporters to register as voters.
The MCAs, who are on a recess until next month, left for Tanzania on Monday, with each of the 47 members expected to pocket Sh260,000 allowance, according to a senior assembly official.
Some members, however, took the allowances but remained in Kisumu to attend a court case involving Speaker Ann Adul and clerk Phillip Adundo.
Ms Adul said she was aware of the trip but was not part of it.
She chairs the Assembly Service Board, which approved the trip.
ON THE SPOTLIGHT
The assembly has been on the spotlight over the number of trips sanctioned by the House, with a report by the Auditor-General showing that the House spent Sh78 million to fund foreign trips in the past two years.
Among the destinations the MCAs have visited are Uganda, China, Singapore and Israel among others.
But speaking to Nation on Tuesday, Kisumu Residents Association chairman Audi Ogada, Mr Denis Menya of the youth caucus and Mr Denis Konge’re of Concern Worldwide —a civil society organisation– termed the trip as a political suicide by the MCAs.
Mr Ogada dismissed the trip as a “non-priority”, saying its timing was suspect and only meant to raise funds for re-election campaigns.
‘ABUSE OF OFFICE’
“This is a perfect example of blatant abuse of office and public resources orchestrated by a House whose sole responsibility was to oversight use of public resources,” he said.
Contacted, most of the reps had switched off their phones while others failed to pick up.
The trip also comes at a time the county has raised concerns over cash crisis that governor Jack Ranguma said has crippled many operations.
