No Reason To Go To Hotels- Ruto Recommends Cut In MPs' Budget

He asserted that there was no need for MPs to use additional resources to conduct meetings in hotels or any other hired venues.

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Apr 25, 2024 - 17:44
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No Reason To Go To Hotels- Ruto Recommends Cut In MPs' Budget
President William Ruto speaking during the official opening of Bunge Tower in Nairobi on April 25, 2024. /AARON CHERUIYOT

President William Ruto has proposed that Parliament reduce its annual budget on travel as well as the expenses used to facilitate meetings.

Speaking to attendees during the official opening of Bunge Tower in Nairobi on Thursday, April 25, the Head of State emphasised the need for significant reductions in expenses, echoing sentiments from both the National Assembly and Senate House leadership regarding potential annual savings of close to Ksh400 million.

He asserted that there was no need for MPs to use additional resources to conduct meetings in hotels or any other hired venues.

President William Ruto (right) chatting with Senate Speaker Amason Kingi at Bunge Towers in the company of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and National Assembly Speaker, Moses Wetangula. /SENATE KENYA

According to Ruto, Bunge Towers was well-equipped with meeting rooms boasting ample hosting capacity.

“There’s no more reason for extra resources to travel to hotels and to places, now that we have all the facilities here, the meeting rooms, I hope I will see a significant drop Mr Speaker in the budget of Parliament,” he stated.

The President inaugurated the Ksh9.6 billion Bunge Towers on Thursday following its postponement last week due to the tragic passing of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Francis Ogolla. Originally scheduled for April 19, the launch was rescheduled to a later date.

In addition, Ruto told legislators that they have no excuse not to deliver on their mandate.

"Members, you now have, according to your own admission world-class facilities. Kenyans expect world-class representation and oversight," Ruto said.

"Looking at the facilities and I tested them this morning, the committee spaces, and the offices, you have now no reason not to give us and the people of Kenya the best of what you can do as our legislators."

Ruto was accompanied by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Speakers Moses Wetang'ula (National Assembly), and Amason Kingi (Senate).

Conceived in 2009, Bunge Tower is the culmination of the Parliamentary Service Commission's (PSC) vision to modernize Parliament by addressing office space limitations and accommodate the increased bicameral Parliament of 349 Members of the National Assembly and 67 Members of the Senate. 

Of the numerous state-of-the-art features, the Towers come with an audio-visual system which will help Kenyans keep Members of Parliament accountable, particularly those who refuse to respond to phone calls and other distress calls.

Speaking during the opening of the Bunge Tower, Kericho MP Aaron Cheruiyot announced that Bunge Tower has been fitted with internet-enabled audio-visual streaming technology which will help Kenyans see members present in various committees and their contributions.

"What we can celebrate about Bunge Tower, is that all the 26 committee rooms are fitted with state of the art audio visual technology that allows Kenyans to follow for the very first time committee sittings live in sessions," he disclosed.

Collage of President William Ruto officially opening the Bunge Tower in Nairobi on April 25, 2024. /SENATE KENYA