National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula on Tuesday, November 19, announced that Members of Parliament(MPs) will travel to Mombasa via Standard Gauge Railway(SGR) trains for the East Africa Legislative(EALA) games that will be held from December 6.
In a notable departure from their usual practice of using luxurious modes of travel, such as air transport, Wetangula revealed that the House Business Committee had settled on SGR after extensive deliberations.
''Honourable members as much as we possibly can, on cost-cutting measures, you will (including yours truly), travel to Mombasa via SGR," he said.
According to Wetangula, the decision was arrived at following the government’s need to cut key expenditures including those of parliament.
''You will liaise with the office of the clerk and hand details of when you want to travel...you will all go by SGR including Mr Speaker, to cut down on costs so that we can be able to facilitate as many of you to come to Mombasa and participate in the games,'' he added.
The games will bring together lawmakers from East African nations who will be facing off in different sporting activities.
Wetangula also encouraged the lawmakers to actively participate in the different categories that will be available.
''I invite you members to be in Mombasa for the friendly games of the East African region where the parliament of the 8 different regions will participate,'' he added.
''Our colleagues from Mombasa, we encourage you to lay good welcome for colleagues both in Kenya and from the region,''
The games will be attended by lawmakers from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, DRC Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan and Somalia.
The EALA games are usually held every year with each member country playing host to the games.
