N.A. Speaker Dr. Moses Masika Wetang’ula.
By Micah Sali.
NAIROBI, Kenya .
National Assembly Speaker Dr. Moses Wetang’ula announced on Tuesday, November 19, that Members of Parliament (MPs) would travel to Mombasa by Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) for the upcoming East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) games.
Scheduled for December 6, the event will see lawmakers from across East Africa competing in various sporting activities.
Wetang’ula emphasized the need for cost-cutting as the government continues to grapple with ballooning expenditures.
In a departure from the MPs’ usual practice of using air travel, Wetang’ula said the decision to use SGR was made after extensive deliberations by the House Business Committee.
“Honorable members, as much as we possibly can, on cost-cutting measures, you will (including yours truly) travel to Mombasa via SGR,” he said. “This will allow us to facilitate as many of you as possible to participate in the games.”
The Speaker’s announcement comes amid increasing concerns over the Kenyan government’s spending habits, which have been widely criticized for inefficiencies and waste.
According to a report by Kenya’s Auditor-General, unauthorized spending in the 2022/23 fiscal year amounted to Ksh 147.39 billion, a significant rise from Ksh 1.1 billion in 2014/15.
This has raised alarm about the government’s budgeting practices, with many calling for more stringent oversight to curb such expenditures.
In addition to the unauthorized spending, critics have pointed to lavish travel and allowances for public officials, as well as bloated public service wages, as prime examples of resource mismanagement.
A report from 2022 revealed that the government’s wage bill and allowances were consuming an unsustainable portion of national resources.
The Kenyan government has also faced scrutiny for over-budgeted infrastructure projects, with some experiencing delays and cost overruns due to inefficient procurement processes.
Furthermore, the nation’s public debt, which now exceeds 70% of GDP, has led to mounting debt servicing costs that further strain public finances, limiting the funds available for development.
Despite these challenges, Wetang’ula urged MPs to embrace the EALA games, which will feature participants from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“I encourage you to actively participate in the games and foster regional camaraderie,” he said.
He also called on Mombasa-based MPs to ensure a warm welcome for their regional counterparts.
As the government looks to reduce wasteful expenditures, the decision to use the SGR for travel signals an effort to set an example of fiscal responsibility.
Kenyan voters believe that more comprehensive reforms are needed to address the country’s ongoing financial challenges.
Ends.
