A section of Samburu leaders have complained over misuse of public funds by the county government on foreign trips.
This was after a team of nine, namely five MCAs and four county officials, spent Sh6 million for a trip to Ethiopia on Wednesday.
They are Julius Leshoomo (Loldokenjek), Jonathan Lemoosa (Ngiro), Benjamin Leitore (Wamba West), Loobuk Pius (Baawa), and Linda Naserian (Nominated).
The five, as well as County Secretary Stephen Letinina and three other members of the county executive, will spend 8 days in Ethiopia.
The county, the legislators said, hired a tour company to cater for travel, food, and accommodation at Sh2.5 million.
Documents seen by the Star revealed the team will be accommodated at Southern Addis hotel for the period.
The team will also attend two-day training at the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations.
They will also spend three days visiting African Union offices, Ethiopian parliament, Stock Exchange and will also tour Addis Ababa.
Maralal MCA Elly Loldepe said each of the nine will pocket slightly over Sh465,000 in allowances.
MCAs Irene Leshore and Modesta Lalaikipian said the trip was organised by the executive as a reward for MCAs who passed the 2017/2018 budget.
“The group which has just travelled to Ethiopia is being rewarded for passing a budget at 4.38pm.”
“This is not the standard time for county assembly business. Some of us were not even involved,” Leshore said.
The MCAs said the trip will not add any value to the county as the final budget in the five-year term has already been passed.
“I don’t think this is the right time for people to be travelling using public funds yet many children drop out of school due to lack of food,” Leshore said.
The MCAs pledged that they will put the county government on toes by enlightening voters on cases of funds misuse.
Speaker Steve Lelegwe, who is supposed to authorise trips by assembly staff, did not respond to calls or text messages on the matter.
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