Embu MCAs to Pocket Millions as They Travel to Tanzania to Learn Basic Etiquette

33 Embu MCAs have reportedly traveled to Tanzania for training on basic etiquette and campaign language ahead of next year’s general elections.

The trip to the neighboring country comes after the assembly proceeded on a two-month recess from December 1st, 2021 to February 8th, 2022.

Reports say each of the MCAs will pocket a daily stipend of Sh37,187 or a total of Sh520,576 for the two weeks they will be there. This will see the MCAs and other members of staff at the Embu county assembly spend millions of taxpayers’ funds.

In addition to the stipends, the group will also pay between Sh2 million to Sh3 million in training fees to the East and Southern Africa Management Institute (ESAMI) in Arusha where the training will take place.

The MCAs are said to have transferred Sh10 million from the County Assembly Sports Association (CASA) games kitty to their foreign travel account to facilitate this trip, according to a recent Supplementary Budget passed by the County Assembly.

The foreign travel account was depleted after the ward representatives made a similar trip to Tanzania in September this year. The training is meant to help the MCAs to learn how to woo voters as they fight to retain their seats in the 2022 general elections.

Embu Senator Njeru Ndwiga castigated the MCAs, termed such trips as wastage of public funds. "You will never find our MCAs in Embu there always on the move Tanzania and Nairobi and this wastage of public funds," Ndwiga said.