Senators Charles Kibiru (Kirinyaga), Christopher Langat (Bomet), Mwangi Githiomi (Nyandarua), Loitiptip Anuar (Lamu) and a clerk are stuck in Berlin, Germany after ill decision making skills over the expenditure of their per diem.
Reports say that the four had travelled to the European nation for an annual trade conference which was slated to kick off on Monday but was cancelled due to the Coronavirus threats.
Speaker Kenneth Lusaka confirmed that the lawmakers had travelled on an official trip. He said the members were making arrangements to fly back after the event was cancelled for fear of the disease.
“Indeed, they are in Germany but they are not stuck or stranded as they are making their own arrangements to come back home, maybe tomorrow or the day after. Some of these procedures are complicated,” he said.
According to a 2020 circular by the Parliamentary Service Commission on per diem remuneration, House speakers, senators, MPs and clerks are entitled to Sh93,547 (€ 820) daily on European trips, meaning an MP in Berlin for seven days would receive Sh655,000 (€ 5,746).
This means all the nine members were supposed to pocket Sh5.9 million for the seven days they were supposed to stay in Berlin. With this much money in your pocket, how does one lack fare home you wonder? The Senate speaker Ken Lusaka rubbished the claims saying the four are held up in Germany due to the limited flights to Nairobi.
Sources revealed the Kenyan senators requested a refund from the hotel after the conference was called off to facilitate their return but the hotel they had already booked in the city turned down their request for a refund.