30 000 000 WASTED

It has now emerged that the cancelled Naivasha retreat meant for the members of parliament to discuss the draft constitution could cost the tax payer over Ksh 30m.

As disappointed Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on constitutional review checked out of Sopa resort in Naivasha, some MPs termed the cancellation as unfortunate.

Two members of the committee Ababu Namwaba and Jeremiah Kioni told the press that there was 'more than meets the eye' following the cancellation.

It emerged that over 300 people including 220 MPs, back-up staff and security detail had been booked in for four days in various hotels in Naivasha at the rate of Ksh 14,000 per night per MP.

Over 600 drivers, personal assistants and some security officers were checked in low cost hotels in Naivasha at a cost of around Ksh 1,000 per night exclusive of meals.

The proposed retreat came a cropper Wednesday after a motion seeking to adjourn house business from Thursday to allow for the retreat was defeated.

The retreat had been planned to ostensibly scrutinize the harmonized draft constitution.

Namwamba said that the government had booked the hotels in advance and the cancellation meant a big loss to the taxpayer.

"Hotels had been booked for the retreat and it's sad that we have to go back without achieving our objectives," he said.

Namwamba who is the PSC vice chairman expressed disappointment st the move saying he hoped that it was not the beginning of another round of political intrigues.

Memo

His sentiments were echoed by Kioni who termed the loss as another corruption scandal in the country and blamed a clique of ODM MPs for the confusion.

"There was a memo a week ago on the retreat and I wonder why the MPs who called for adjournment never opposed it," Kioni said.

In their arguments legislators opposed to the retreat said the retreat was a political attempt at mutilating the draft for selfish reasons and debate should be confined to parliament buildings and not any other forum.

They argued that it was a waste of taxpayers' money for MPs to go to Naivasha yet political parties had already taken hard stances over the matter.

However those pushing for the retreat argued it would give the members an opportunity to scrutinize the draft and make informed choices.

They argued that the retreat was not biding in law, as the law requires any amendments made to the draft be done in parliament by a two thirds majority of MPs.