Parliament refutes claims that MPs pocket allowances meant for bodyguards, drivers
This follows a report by Daily Nation noting that Speaker Moses Wetangula, during a National Assembly's leadership retreat in Nakuru, warned MPs from pocketing night-out allowances for their drivers and security teams.
National Assembly clerk Samuel Njoroge termed the report "false, inaccurate and sensational", clarifying that the report was written on illusory facts.
He clarified that bodyguards and drivers have not received allowances since the Finance Bill 2024 was rejected and Parliament's budget was significantly reduced.
"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 MPs," read a statement in part.
Njoroge added that the cash strain for bodyguards and drivers was also factored in the 2024/2025 fiscal year.
"The allowances are therefore not available as alleged in the misguided newspaper article...there is, therefore, no possibility for a Member of Parliament to appropriate an allowance that does not exist," the statement added.
Drivers and bodyguards attached to MPs have been receiving allowances to facilitate the performance of their official duties as per the Parliamentary Service Commission's policy.
The clerk elucidated that no formal complaints on denial or misappropriation of the allowances were made during the period.
Njoroge further claimed that the matter in question was not on the retreat's agenda.
In the report, Wetangula warned legislators from pocketing the referenced allowances, noting that it would have dire ramifications.
"You can imagine if your bodyguard calls you a thief and says you stole him money for all the five years," he said as quoted.
"From what I have found out, a majority of the MPs do not want to touch that money and I will advise you not to, for the simple reason that it will create problems for you."
