MPs criticised for failing to attend workshops

The National Assembly is concerned about poor attendance at meetings and workshops organised for Members of Parliament and paid for by the taxpayer.

It has emerged some members fail to turn up for workshops, conferences and meetings even when they have confirmed attendance.

The trend has mainly been noted in workshops and meetings organised in Mombasa and Kisumu.

Some of the participants confirm attendance and the Assembly goes ahead to make hotel and flight bookings for them, only for them to fail to show up.

Others make brief appearances and then disappear.

REVIEW PERFORMANCE

The issue arose during the 3rd National Assembly leadership retreat where the leaders met to reflect on the body’s progress and review its overall performance.

The leadership reviewed how the House has fared in its legislative and oversight role as well as obstacles.

The conduct of members, quality of debates and reports, decorum and etiquette issues, relationship with other arms of government, constitutional obligations, international engagements and relationship with the media were some of the issues discussed.

Disturbed by the trend of poor meeting attendance, National Assembly Clerk Justin Bundi said it has demanded that remedial measures be taken and this would include recovering the cost of bookings from the individual MP where there has been confirmation of attendance.

Highlighting the progress made by the National Assembly with emphasis on performance, challenges and functional obstacles, Mr Bundi said poor time keeping was also an issue of concern.

“Most meetings and transaction of business are delayed due to lack of quorum, poor time keeping and technical appearances, this has at times delayed progress of committees and at times even the House,” he said.

He said it is embarrassing because other stakeholders invited to attend such meetings have turned up for the meetings on time.