Days after unconfirmed reports emerged that 100 Members of Parliament were seeking to travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to support Kenya's African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson candidate Raila Odinga, the National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has responded.
Speaking during Parliament proceedings on Thursday, Wetangula confirmed that he had received about 40 notifications from MPs planning to make the journey but the house would only sponsor travel expenses of four of them.
Led by Belgut MP Nelson Koech who heads the National Assembly Committee on Foreign Affairs, the four will be travelling in the capacities they hold in the house.
"As the National Assembly, and following a request from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs we have a delegation of four members travelling to Addis Ababa in solidarity with the Kenya candidate. The members are led by the chairperson of the departmental committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relation, Honourable Nelson Koech," Wetangula read.
The other three are Haiza Mizighi, the chairperson of the Diaspora Affairs Committee, Abdullahi Bashir Sheikh, the vice chair of the Defence Committee and Millie Odhiambo, Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo who serves as the Minority Whip in the National Assembly.
About the fate of the other 40, Wetangula added that he would grant them the leave and lauded them for their patriotism.
"I am also aware that other members of the National Assembly will be travelling to Addis Ababa as part of the leadership and citizens of the country in solidarity and support the candidature of Honourable Raila Odinga," Wetangula relayed.
"In line with the provisions of standing orders, we have received about 40 notifications from members intending to attend the event. For clarity, these members will be travelling in their private capacities as citizens and leaders and therefore they will be self-sponsored. We laud them for that patriotic duty."
On Tuesday, February 11, Nyandarua Senator John Methu expressed concern that over 100 Kenyan lawmakers were planning to join Odinga’s delegation for the elections on Saturday.
In the interview, he alleged the leaders were to travel on taxpayer's buck and raised concerns over the misuse of funds.
"I hope and imagine that the 100 MPs accompanying Baba to Ethiopia are doing so at their own expense. We cannot afford to be wasteful. Raila Odinga has his own secretariat. In my opinion, the MPs have no significant role apart from the general support we are already providing," Methu stated.
All 55 African Presidents will vote for the next AUC Chair on Saturday, February 15, where Odinga will be facing off with Djibouti's Mahmoud Ali Yousouff and Madagascar's Richard J Randriamandrato.
