Wetangula: Gov’t to sponsor only 4 MPs to Addis for Raila’s AUC vote, others on their own

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula now says that over 40 MPs had submitted requests seeking sponsorship to travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to support Raila Odinga ahead of the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairmanship polls on Saturday.

Addressing the House on Thursday, Wetangula revealed that despite the requests, the State will only cover the travel expenses of four legislators.

They include; Nelson Koech (Belgut MP and Chairperson of the Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee) and Lydia Haika (Taita Taveta Women Rep and Chairperson of the Diaspora Affairs and Migrant Workers Committee).

Bashir Abdullahi (Mandera North MP and Vice Chairperson Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations) as well as Suba North MP and Minority Whip Millie Odhiambo will also be sponsored by the government.

Wetangula's remarks come amid growing criticism of excessive government spending, particularly in relation to foreign travel.

“I am also aware of other Members who will be travelling to support in their private capacity as leaders and citizens of this country and in support of the candidature of Raila Odinga,” he said.

“Indeed, in line with the provisions of Standing Orders, I have received over 40 notifications of MPs intending to travel for this activity. For clarity, these members will be travelling in their own capacity and thus will be self-sponsored.”  

Further, Wetangula defended the decision, noting that it is not uncommon for citizens, including MPs, to personally finance their participation in international forums of such stature.

“It is important to note that it is not unusual for citizens of a country including Members of Parliament to sponsor themselves to such high-level international forum,” he said while alluding to criticisms frequently leveled against the Kenya Kwanza government regarding the use of public funds for international travel.

“I say so because we have seen the usual barrage against Parliament…that Parliament has sent 100 members to Addis Ababa. We can very well all go if we can be able to sponsor ourselves but Parliament doesn’t have the resources to sponsor 100 members.”

On Wednesday, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi slammed negative questions around the size of the Kenyan government delegation in Addis Ababa, given Kenya’s interest in capturing the AUC Chairmanship.

Speaking in Addis Ababa, Mudavadi told Citizen Digital that the administration was “conscious of the economic situation,” and therefore “for all intents and purposes our delegation is not extraordinary.”

While he did not give specific numbers, the Prime CS said the delegation, as would be expected, included officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Presidency.

“President Ruto and I am the Minister for Foreign Affairs. And we have officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who anchor this process and we have a mission here… we have a lean delegation coming here,” he stated.

This said, Mudavadi did not discount that there would be a significant representation from Kenya but he was quick to stress that it would be self-sponsored.

“The Kenyans who are coming here. The ones who are being highlighted by yourselves, is people who are coming out of their volition. It’s not an expenditure from the government of Kenya," he said. 

Odinga is facing off against Madagascar's Richard Randriamandrato (65) and Djibouti's Mohamoud Youssouf (60).

The successful candidate will succeed Chad's Moussa Faki who will exit after his two-term tenure which started in 2017.

A winner will be declared when a two-thirds majority of Heads of State from the AU member states vote in their favour.