Nairobi County Senator Edwin Sifuna has expressed his shock at the amount of money allocated to him by parliament for the use of the Nairobi Expressway. Speaking during a Senate session on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, Sifuna criticized the government’s wasteful spending at the taxpayers’ expense.
He highlighted an example from when he was appointed Deputy Minority Whip in the Senate, revealing that he was allocated a government vehicle for his use. Sifuna pointed to such allocations as evidence of the government’s excessive spending, which he believes is unjustified given the current economic climate.
Sifuna on Parliament car
What got him by shock, Sifuna says, is the amount of money loaded in his Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) card for the use of the toll road.
“I want to give a personal example and you will forgive me if I am giving house secrets. Hon chair, when I became the Deputy Minority Whip, I was allocated a GK vehicle. On the first day that used that car to go home, I passed through the Expressway. I was shocked at the amount of money that is on my ETC card for my Parliamentary car. As of this morning, when I used that same car to come here, there is Sh377,000 on my ETC card,” Sifuna said.
Budget cuts
Senator Edwin Sifuna urged parliament to review its budget and identify areas where parliamentarians can make significant concessions and cuts to demonstrate to the public that they are committed to reducing the financial burden, rather than increasing it.
As the Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Sifuna called on MPs and parliamentary staff to be transparent with Kenyans.
He highlighted the excessive amount of money loaded onto his ETC card for Nairobi Expressway use, stating that it is unnecessary. Sifuna emphasized that he does not need such a large allocation and called for greater fiscal responsibility.
“It does not make sense. Members of Parliament and staff have to be honest with Kenyans in the way the budget of the parliament is prepared. There are ways and means of reducing expenditure in this house in a manner that will not overburden the taxpayer,” Sifuna said.
“I honestly do not need all that money, even if I ran on the Expressway for a whole year, I can’t exhaust the Ksh377,000.”
Khalwale’s take
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has called on President William Ruto to eliminate certain offices that are not mandated by the Constitution of Kenya. Among the offices Khalwale suggested for disbandment are the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, the Office of the First Lady, the Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) positions, and the President’s economic advisors.
