National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has issued a strong warning to Members of Parliament (MPs), urging them to uphold principles of fairness, justice, and equity in resource allocation. This follows allegations that the Budget and Appropriations Committee, chaired by Ndindi Nyoro, disproportionately allocated funds to their own constituencies while neglecting others.
In his address to the House, Wetangula reminded MPs that they are public trustees, not self-serving politicians. He stressed that parliamentary committees should serve the collective interests of the nation rather than personal or regional gains.
“The essence of our Constitution is equity, fairness, and justice. Those privileged to serve in committees must remember that they represent the country, not just themselves,” Wetang’ula stated.
His remarks were in response to concerns raised by Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba, who decried the sidelining of certain counties in the budget-making process. Milemba pointed out that counties such as Vihiga, which had been scheduled for public participation, were excluded due to leadership issues within the Budget Committee. He accused the committee of inflating public participation allocations from Ksh 2 billion to over Ksh 10 billion, leading to unfair distribution of funds.
Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and Minority Leader Junet Mohamed also condemned the alleged misuse of parliamentary committee positions. They described the practice as “immoral and unethical,” citing instances where certain counties received significantly larger allocations than others.
“It is unacceptable that a county meant to benefit from public participation received only Ksh 10 million for a national polytechnic, while another, where a Budget Committee member sits, secured Ksh 250 million for a similar institution,” lamented Ichung’wah.
Junet Mohamed echoed similar sentiments, warning against MPs who use their influential committee positions to unfairly direct resources to their constituencies. He noted a growing trend where MPs benchmark in well-funded constituencies while others remain marginalized.
Milemba called for a review of the budget to ensure fair allocation of resources. He urged the responsible committee to reinstate funds meant for public participation and cautioned against leadership using their roles for personal enrichment.
Wetang’ula’s warning serves as a reminder that parliamentary committees must function in the interest of all Kenyans, ensuring equitable distribution of resources across the country.
