News
Anger at waste on Obama trip
Posted Thursday, January 15 2009 at 21:14
Kenyans have criticised the planned trip by State officials to attend a party for the inauguration of Barack Obama as US president.
They are angry that the delegation is spending taxpayers’ money on the unofficial party at a time when millions are staring starvation in the face.
Former assistant minister Kalembe Ndile says the officials should not misuse taxpayers’ money to travel to the US, yet they will watch the ceremony on television sets from their hotel rooms.
Mr Ndile caused a stir at the Foreign Affairs ministry yesterday after he forcefully donated a 21-inch television for the top officials to use to follow proceedings at Mr Obama’s inauguration next Tuesday.
However, his gesture was not received well as his “donation” was rejected. The former Kibwezi MP was also not allowed into the building with the gift. None of the ministry officials was willing to take the TV set, with the minister, his assistant and PS not available to receive it.
Make donation
A ministry official, identified as a Mr Waithiru who came out to speak to Mr Ndile said he had not booked an appointment to “make the donation.”
But this did not stop Mr Ndile from proceeding with his mission. He left the television set, which he claimed to be from his sitting room, at the building’s door.
“Why should we fund a delegation when it has been made clear that only our ambassador in the US is invited?” the former MP asked.
The American embassy in Kenya last week said that only chiefs of diplomatic missions in Washington DC and their spouses will represent their countries at the function.
US envoy Michael Ranneberger said this was in keeping with past practice in the country. Kenya will be represented by its representative Ambassador Peter Ogego.
Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetang’ula later said that he would lead a non-official Kenyan delegation to Washington. But the team of ministers and MPs will only attend a grand celebration party on the eve of the inauguration and not the main event.
Among those in the delegation are ministers Najib Balala, Anyang’ Nyong’o, Hellen Sambili and Deputy House Speaker Farah Maalim.
It is not yet clear how much the Government will spend on the trip for flights, hotel bookings and the delegation’s upkeep.
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Submitted by njengahPosted January 18, 2009 11:43 AM
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Submitted by kapuch
priority,priority,priority maslow hierachy .you will be helping american economy.That is sad.
Posted January 18, 2009 04:51 AM -
Submitted by jamuhuri63
Well talking of wasting tax payers money! ODM MPs not looking after their constituents but their on leisurely pursuits! How many Kenyas are starving? I bet President-elect Obama would recommend them to donate the monies they would spend rather to the starving women and childrens.
Posted January 17, 2009 06:39 PM -
Submitted by Bmuroki
Kibaki and Raila government of national unity is full of fools who do not care whether 10 million Kenyans are dying of hunger or not. Why cant they use their own money to travel to the USA as they do not pay taxes? Why should they waste tax payers money that could have been used to buy food for the hungry? May God punish them harshly.
Posted January 17, 2009 05:54 PM -
Submitted by Wanjiku98
gathoni, it is not 3m it is 10m and there is a 99% chance that atleast one is your relative. Please remember your people everybody. Share food if you get it. And those bloggers who live abroad, you are part of Kenya's developmental partners. The begging bowl is extended to you too.
Posted January 17, 2009 05:49 PM
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I don't consider this a waste. With the current state of affairs in Kenya, MPs need all the cash they can get to feed, school and entertain their children. They will be paid travel allowance, sitting allowance, disturbance allowance, out of constituency work allowance, and meet the people allowance. They will use this money to grow our economy. This is called 'trickle down kibakinomics'.