Raila Odinga condemns US trip by 85 Parliamentarians for National Conference of State Legislators

ODM party leader Raila Odinga has criticized a trip to the United States by 85 members and staff of the 12th Parliament that is scheduled to take place this week.

Kenya will be the only State in the world to have sponsored the largest number of delegates at the conference, seconded by Nigeria with 20 representatives. Most other countries sent between one and six legislators to represent them.

The group includes speakers and clerks of the bicameral Parliament, MCAs from various counties and support staff.

Through his spokesman Dennis Onyango, the former Prime Minister stated that the extravagant trip is a waste of state funds.

ODM party leader Raila Odinga condemns US trip by 85 Parliamentarians for National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) Pulse Live Kenya

"The PM finds no justification at all in Parliament and county assemblies sending such a huge delegation on a mission where a handful could come back with a report...it is a scandalous waste of revenue," Mr Onyango conveyed.

List of Kenyan MPs in the US

The event will be headlined by American singer, songwriter Dolly Parton, presidential biographer and historian Jon Meacham, author Wes Moore, filmmaker Evan Shapiro and CNN political contributor Van Jones.

Kenyan representatives confirmed to be in the trip are Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen, Senate deputy minority leader Cleopas Malala, PSC vice chair Naomi Shaban and Clerk of the Senate Jeremiah Nyegenye.

County Assemblies Forum chief Judy Ouma and her deputy Esther Ndile sre also in the delegation together with PSC members Samuel Chepkonga, Aisha Katana, Lonah Mumelo and Phyllis Makau.

MPs on the trip were listed as Cecily Mbarire, Charles Njagua, Asha Hussein, Adan Keynan, Ben Momanyi, Julius Mawathe, Mutunga Kanyuithia, Nyaga Muchiri, Omboko Milemba, Tecla Tum and Daniel Tuitoek.

In total, 16 MCAs, four county clerks and two county speakers were selected for the trip from Nairobi, Kajiado, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Kitui, Kisii, Taita Taveta and Makueni counties.

The event will be taking place in Nashville, Tennessee which means the delegates will have to take a connection flight from New York to the Nashville International Airport after their direct flight from Nairobi to New York.

File image of a joint parliamentary sitting. Raila Odinga condemns US trip by 85 Parliamentarians for National Conference of State Legislators Pulse Live Kenya

On average, the MPs' trip to and from Nashville will cost between Sh355,000 and Sh587,000 for each person travelling. That cost does not include allowances and per diems that will be paid to them.