The National Assembly has responded to reports of Members of Parliament (MPs) pocketing allowances paid to their bodyguards and drivers.
National Assembly Clerk Samuel Njoroge dismissed the article by the Daily Nation on Tuesday November 26, 2024.
In a statement, Njoroge said the story was made up by the author and attributed to Speaker Moses Wetangula.
“At the outset, we wish to note that the allegations are false, inaccurate and sensational. The statement attributed to the Speaker of the National Assembly is entirely untrue and a fictitious creation of the author of the publication,” the statement reads in part.
He stated that the budget for Parliament was substantially reduced following rejection of the Finance Bill, 2024.
Njoroge explained that some of the items affected by the reduction included foreign and domestic travel; purchase of equipment; hospitality; and the allocation for constituency offices, which includes the said allowances for bodyguards and drivers attached to Members of Parliament.
Additionally, he said funds have not been factored in the budget of the National Assembly for the said allowances for bodyguards and drivers in the current Financial Year, 2024/2025.
“The allowances are therefore not available as alleged in the misguided newspaper article, a fact that MPs and their bodyguards and drivers have accordingly been notified. There is, therefore, no possibility for a MP to appropriate an allowance that does not exist,” he said.
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Period When MPs Drivers & Bodyguards Received Allowances
The Clerk clarified that bodyguards and drivers attached to MPs have been paid these allowances in the past.
This, he said, was meant to facilitate the performance of their official duties as per the Parliamentary Service Commission’s policy.
According to Njoroge, no formal complaints have been received on denial or misappropriation of the allowances during that period.
He stated that the issue of allowances for bodyguards and drivers was not an agenda item at the recently concluded National Assembly’s Leadership Retreat held from 27th to 30th October 2024 in Nakuru County.
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Plea to Journalists
The Clerk urged journalists to seek clarification from the House before publishing stories relating to MPs and the House.
“Had the author of the article sought prior clarification, the facts relating to the matter would have been readily provided,” he said.
“We urge the particular author to strive to be objective in his reporting, seek clarification from the relevant offices, and avoid making unfounded allegations and alarming reports on Parliament and its Members.”
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