The stand-off between Members of Parliament (MPs) and the Treasury over the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) during their retreat in Monasas cost taxpayers approximately Ksh28 million.
According to a report by Citizen TV on Thursday, February 2, the decision to boycott the induction retreat extended the MPs' stay at the hotel in Mombasa by two days.
This meant that taxpayers would have to cater for the expenses including accommodation and conference charges.
Sources confirmed that the lawmakers, 349 in total including the Woman Representatives and 12 nominated members, were booked into various rooms at a five-star hotel.
While the legislators were to receive allowances of Ksh10,000 and daily per diem of Ksh18,200 per sitting, it remains unclear whether they received their dues for the two days.
In total, the convention in Mombasa and the induction of the members of the Parliamentary committee meeting cost Kenyans a total of Ksh205 million.
This includes Ksh112 million for their accommodation, Ksh87 million in allowances and Ksh5 million for air tickets.
Chaos erupted on the first day of the retreat when the lawmakers declared that they would not proceed with the meeting unless the Treasury disbursed the funds.
The MPs demanded that Treasury Cabinet Secretary (CS) Njuguna Ndung'u order the releases the funds immediately arguing that the money was essential especially during the school reopening period on January 23.
Consequently, CS Ndungu ordered the release of Ksh4 billion to the CDF accounts after an intervention by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetangula.
The order allowed the meeting to resume although the MPs argued that the funds were short of Ksh8 billion from their Ksh12 billion target.
They argued that the funds were essential since they needed to issue bursaries to school-going children who relied on the fund.
