Aaron Cheruiyot Denounces Nation Report On Ruto-Raila Talks Team Seeking Ksh106M

Kericho Senator and Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot has dismissed a headline report by the Nation newspaper claiming that the bipartisan talks team formed by President William Ruto and Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga is seeking Ksh106 million to facilitate the talks at Bomas of Kenya.

Cheruiyot in a statement on Wednesday, September 27 revealed that there was no indication of taxpayers' money being used to finance the talks being spearheaded by the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO).

"Please establish the facts of any matter before running a campaign on it. 

"We have never been paid any allowance. There has never been a charge to taxpayers on behalf of NADCO. This is your usual hired headlines. Distasteful," the Senator stated while reacting to a post by NTV on X (formerly Twitter).

The newspaper reported that a budget document prepared by the secretariat and adopted by NADCO revealed that most of the proposed millions were allocated to allowances to the members of the talks team and to facilitate retreats in Naivasha and Mombasa.

The document also alleged that the ongoing stakeholders' engagement that began on Monday and is set to run until Friday will use up Ksh5,996,000, with much of that amount going into allowances, conference facilities and refreshments.

Another Ksh10 million was reported to be spent on ‘document translation’ while the publication of 1,000 copies would cost Ksh15,000,000 at a cost of Ksh15,000 per unit. Ksh9.7 million was revealed to be earmarked for contingency, being 10 per cent of the total cost.

The NADCO co-chairs, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah would get a sitting allowance of Ksh50,000, with both revealed to be attending a total of 20 sittings.

15 sittings will be at Bomas of Kenya, three in Naivasha during report writing and two in Mombasa during the adoption of the final document that will be submitted to Parliament.

The two leaders would thus get a total of Ksh2 million on top of other expenses like air tickets and accommodation running into thousands of shillings for the planned retreats in Naivasha and Mombasa.

Cheruiyot, alongside Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, EALA MP Hassan Omar, Catherine Wambilianga, National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, DAP Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa, Nyamira Senator Okon'go Omogeni and Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi, were revealed to be each taking home Ksh40,000 in allowances per sitting.