The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) chairman, Francis Ole Kaparo bashed Senators and Members of County Assembly (MCAs) for skipping sessions during this year’s legislative forum, instead opting to spend time at the sandy beaches of Mombasa.
Mr Kaparo was speaking during the Second Annual Legislative Summit at Pride Inn Paradise Beach Resort.
He expressed his displeasure at their attitude of skipping the meetings saying, “At a great cost, Kenyans brought you here to participate in this important meeting. You came here by air, air ticket paid for you, you were booked in luxurious five-star hotels but the seats are empty here.”
The former Speaker of the National Assembly pleaded with the delegates to take their roles seriously and respect the funds that were utilised to organise that forum.
He also suggested that he would reconsider holding such seminars in the coastal city.
“Zamani nikiwa Speaker, mikutano ya maana kama hii ilifanywa katika national parks maanake mtapata shida sana kuwatembelea wanyama wa pori,” (When I was the speaker, such important meetings used to be held at national parks because you cannot afford to go for leisure walks in the wild) he joked.
Despite millions of taxpayers funds being used in footing the forum, the legislators took leisurely strolls on the beach, enjoying the cool breeze instead of discussing pertinent issues that took them there.
The halls were virtually empty as the MCAs and Senators opted to splash in the water and play volleyball on the beach.
This is a repeat of the 2016 summit when the MCAs also skipped most of the sessions as they toured the best joints in Mombasa.
